Michigan State Basketball: Report card for home thumping of Northwestern
Starters
Michigan State got back to a more normal starting lineup with Aaron Henry earning his spot back but Malik Hall made his second start. The group started strong and finished strong, and that’s all you can ask for if you’re Tom Izzo.
Cassius Winston: B
Under his standards, Cassius Winston did not play particularly well. He scored 18 points and shot 6-for-12 from the floor, but he had just one assist and five uncharacteristic turnovers. He would be the first to tell you he didn’t play well and if his bad games still equals 18 points and 4-for-7 shooting from distance, sign me up. Winston got a much-needed rest in the second half from Foster Loyer, though.
Aaron Henry: B-
It was another up-and-down game for Aaron Henry as he started 0-for-7 from the field and then finished with two consecutive makes and six points, four rebounds and four assists. His passing continues to improve and he cut down his turnovers to just one against the Wildcats. He’s doing everything else fairly well, but needs to consistently find that shooting stroke.
Gabe Brown: B
Gabe Brown had another highlight reel play with a put-back jam on a Thomas Kithier miss in the second half and he hit a late three to finish with seven points on 3-of-6 shooting. I continue to be impressed with his defensive effort and ability to hit threes consistently — even though he did miss a couple of open ones.
Malik Hall: B+
Call me biased, but I think Malik Hall is maturing before our eyes and I think he was one of the bright spots in the starting five last night. I’ve been high on this kid ever since the exhibition games and I think he has greatness in his future. For now, he’s a solid role player and finished with six points, two rebounds and an assist and rarely makes mistakes on offense. He left the game with a sprained ankle.
Xavier Tillman: A-
Arguably the most consistent Spartan for the past couple of months, Xavier Tillman had yet another solid game and finished just shy of a double-double with 12 points and eight rebounds. As if that wasn’t enough, he had four assists, three steals and two blocks and his three offensive rebounds were big. He was 4-of-6 from the floor and even hit a 3-pointer early in the game. Defense continues to be his calling card, though, and he excelled on Wednesday.