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Michigan State Basketball: Report card for dominant win at 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 in between Donta Scott #24 and Jalen Smith #25 of 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 shoots in between Donta Scott #24 and Jalen Smith #25 of the Maryland Terrapins during the first half at Xfinity Center on February 29, 2020 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

Starters

The starters accounted for most of the production on Saturday night, and that’s something Tom Izzo was more than OK with.

Cassius Winston: A-

While he fell just short of an A because of his turnovers, Cassius Winston was about as good as could be on the offensive side of the ball. He played decent defense but was the victim of some phantom fouls. He finished with 20 points, six assists and seven turnovers, shooting 6-for-12 from the floor and 5-for-6 from deep. Cassius hit clutch shot after clutch shot and deserves this high grade.

Rocket Watts: B+

You might look at the shooting numbers and assume Rocket Watts had a bad game, but his 5-for-13 and 3-for-9 from deep was a little misleading. Watts hit a number of clutch shots to answer short Maryland momentum boosts and was a calming factor in the Spartans’ offense, finishing with 13 points and three assists.

Aaron Henry: B+

Defensively, Aaron Henry played a fantastic game on Anthony Cowan, for the most part. He was a little stagnant offensively and missed some easy shots, but still had nine points. Holding Cowan in check earns him a higher grade here as the Maryland point guard was the reason the Spartans lost the first game in East Lansing. It looks like Henry’s confidence is growing.

Malik Hall: A

Malik Hall played his best game since Seton Hall and arguably his top game of the year, shooting 5-for-5 from the floor and accounting for 16 points and six rebounds. He may have just won the starting spot at the four and if he continues to gain confidence, he can become a go-to scorer in the mid-range game and the post. If he can learn to defend without fouling, he’s going to be a really, really good player for years to come.

Xavier Tillman: A

Once again, Xavier Tillman deserves a tip of the cap. The junior big man continues to get better and it’s hard to believe his life has changed drastically with the birth of his son because he hasn’t missed a beat. He played a great all-around game on Saturday with 14 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and two blocks and he showcased some post moves we haven’t seen in a while.

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