Michigan State Basketball: 3 takeaways from win over No. 6 Duke

2. Aaron Henry has become the leader of this team

We saw Rocket Watts rise to the occasion and hit some big shots down the stretch to score a team-high 20 points on 7-of-16 shooting. He looked like a much better player than from his first two games and the more confidence he gains, the better Michigan State is.

But enough about Rocket. The player who has surprised me the most this season is Aaron Henry.

The junior wing has been outstanding in every game. He has been a better passer, smarter player, improved leader and an even better scorer. He makes everything look easy when he puts the ball on the floor and he is one of the best defenders in the nation.

What really impressed me was something he did when he was on the bench in the second half. He was standing up, yelling instructions to his teammates. He was showcasing a vocal leadership role and that’s something everyone had been waiting for in regards to the growth of Henry as a player.

Henry finished the game with 14 points, five rebounds, five assists, three steals and three blocks. He stuffed the stat sheet again and was a major reason why Michigan State won on the road.