Michigan State Basketball: 5 ways to turn 2019-20 season around

EAST LANSING, MI - FEBRUARY 15: Cassius Winston #5 and Kyle Ahrens #0 of the Michigan State Spartans talk in the second half of the game against the Maryland Terrapins at the Breslin Center on February 15, 2020 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

2 of 5

EAST LANSING, MI – FEBRUARY 15: Aaron Henry #11 of the Michigan State Spartans shoots the ball in the first half of the game against Donta Scott #24 of the Maryland Terrapins at the Breslin Center on February 15, 2020 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

4. Get back to running

If there’s one thing Michigan State has been known for over the past few years, it’s getting out and running and tiring opponents with constant fast-breaks and quick buckets in transition.

That hasn’t happened consistently in weeks.

Michigan State has slowed things up, and that may be Tom Izzo’s doing, but it’s not wearing down any opponents. The Spartans are getting rebounds, finding the outlet and Cassius Winston will sometimes push but often times he doesn’t look to run and reels himself in, waiting for the offense to set itself up.

While this may cut down on turnovers, it also veers away from what the team has been comfortable doing and why they were so successful in 2018-19.

Is this because Kenny Goins, Matt McQuaid and surprising rim-to-rim running big man Nick Ward are gone? Maybe, but there is no shortage of athletes on this roster who can run the floor.

If Michigan State wants to put pressure on opponents and get back to its style of play, it needs to run the floor again and push the tempo.

Home/Spartans Basketball