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Michigan State Basketball: 3 takeaways from mammoth win over Maryland

By Connor Muldowney

COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND - FEBRUARY 29: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans dribbles against the Maryland Terrapins during the first half at Xfinity Center on February 29, 2020 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND - FEBRUARY 29: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans dribbles against the Maryland Terrapins during the first half at Xfinity Center on February 29, 2020 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND – FEBRUARY 29: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans shoots a buzzer beater in front of Anthony Cowan Jr. #1 of the Maryland Terrapins as the first half end at Xfinity Center on February 29, 2020 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND – FEBRUARY 29: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans shoots a buzzer beater in front of Anthony Cowan Jr. #1 of the Maryland Terrapins as the first half end at Xfinity Center on February 29, 2020 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

1. Michigan State is playing its best basketball of the year

Something has clicked with this team recently.

After surrendering a 14-0 run to lose a home game against Maryland just a couple of weeks ago, everyone, including myself, was ready to write the Spartans off. It seemed like the Spartans just didn’t have “it” and a “Spartan Dawg mentality” and the team seemed destined for an early exit in the NCAA Tournament.

Fast forward to Feb. 29 and people are jumping back on the bandwagon. Michigan State has won four of five games and three of those have been against ranked opponents — two on the road. The Spartans had a 20-point lead at No. 22 Illinois before winning by just one and then had an 18-point lead over Maryland in College Park, winning by 12.

The Spartans also played a phenomenal second half to beat No. 18 Iowa and capped off a two-ranked win week by improving to 20-9 and pulling within one game of first place in the Big Ten with a week ago.

Cassius Winston is playing at an elite level, Malik Hall and Rocket Watts are stepping up, Xavier Tillman is playing incredible defense, Aaron Henry is gaining momentum and Kyle Ahrens has been a spark off the bench. The team’s defense has gotten better and they’ve been responding on offense to every opponent score lately (especially on Saturday night).

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The Spartans are playing their best basketball of the Big Ten season and — what’s that, you say? — it’s now officially March.

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