Michigan State Basketball: 3 takeaways from tough loss to Penn State

Michigan State Basketball: 3 takeaways from disappointing loss to Penn State

EAST LANSING, MI - FEBRUARY 04: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans handles the ball against Jamari Wheeler #5 of the Penn State Nittany Lions in the first half of the game at the Breslin Center on February 4, 2020 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

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EAST LANSING, MI – FEBRUARY 04: Gabe Brown #44 of the Michigan State Spartans goes for a loose ball in the first half of the game against Izaiah Brockington #12 of the Penn State Nittany Lions at the Breslin Center on February 4, 2020 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

2. Unforced turnovers are killing this team

Once again, Michigan State couldn’t stop shooting itself in the foot. The Spartans went up eight early and then started turning the ball over at a high rate, falling asleep on defense and missing open shots — while also taking some bad ones.

But nothing hurt more than those unforced turnovers.

Plays like Cassius Winston trying to force something that isn’t there, a pass going off a big man’s hands or Aaron Henry driving into the lane only to cough the ball up are correctable but those are unforced turnovers that have killed Michigan State all year long.

Henry may be the biggest culprit as he either has an incredible game or a forgettable one and Tuesday night may have been more of the latter.

A pass by Malik Hall to no one which led to a backcourt violation with just over a minute to go was the nail in the coffin and it summed up the night.

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