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Michigan State Basketball: Report card for Champions Classic loss to Kentucky

By Connor Muldowney

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 05: Xavier Tillman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts during the first half against the Kentucky Wildcats at Madison Square Garden on November 05, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 05: Xavier Tillman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts during the first half against the Kentucky Wildcats at Madison Square Garden on November 05, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 05: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans controls the ball in the second half of their game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Madison Square Garden on November 05, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 05: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans controls the ball in the second half of their game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Madison Square Garden on November 05, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) /

Starters

It wasn’t the best game for most of the starting lineup and Rocket Watts had his “welcome to college basketball” moment. This starting lineup combined for 44 points on 15-of-33 shooting and they made just 2-of-15 shots from 3-point range. They didn’t have the best game, but there’s plenty of room for improvement.

Cassius Winston: B

While Cassius Winston was solid, he didn’t have his best game and he’d be the first to admit that. He was just 5-for-12 from the floor and 1-of-7 from 3-point land. He had four assists and four turnovers to go along with his team-high 21 points. He had some poor fouls on a couple of 3-point shots and was in foul trouble for most of the game. We won’t see many bad games like this from him, but he was still the only source of offense, for the most part.

Rocket Watts: C-

Let’s face it, this wasn’t Rocket’s best game and he’s only going to get better from here. He was non-existent offensively, but he did do a decent job of filling in for Cassius at point guard. When he gets that shot to fall and gets some more confidence to drive to the hoop, he’s going to be fun to watch.

Aaron Henry: B-

Another guy who had a decent, but not good, game was Aaron Henry and he has been considered the X-factor by many this year. He made some impressive plays with nine points on 4-of-7 shooting, but he is better than the numbers show. He did have three assists and two rebounds, but a couple of bad early fouls. He was the second-best starter on Tuesday.

Thomas Kithier: C+

I was a little harsh on Thomas Kithier earlier in the game, but he proved to be consistent enough in the post to earn a decent grade. He started, looked a little rusty and then finished with seven points and three rebounds and even had a huge and-one in the second half. If he can bring that energy on a regular basis to the starting lineup, Michigan State will have a solid post. He did get pushed around a bit by Nick Richards.

Xavier Tillman: C+

Michigan State needs to feed the post more. Not giving Xavier Tillman the ball down low hurt the Spartans throughout the game as they settled for 3-pointers. We saw the positives in the second half when Tillman touches the ball and can either make a move or facilitate. He needs to touch the ball. It wasn’t his best game, either, and he’ll only get better. He finished with seven points, nine rebounds, a block and three turnovers while also being in foul trouble.

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