Michigan State Basketball: 3 takeaways from sloppy win over Detroit Mercy

EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN - DECEMBER 04: Rocket Watts #2 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates a first half play with Julius Marble II #34 while playing the Detroit Titans at Breslin Center on December 04, 2020 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

3 of 3

EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN – DECEMBER 04: Bul Kuol #10 of the Detroit Titans drives to the basket against Joey Hauser #20 of the Michigan State Spartans during the first half at Breslin Center on December 04, 2020 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

1. MSU was completely unfocused

You could tell from the get-go that Michigan State just didn’t have the focus necessary to dominate Detroit Mercy like it should have.

The Spartans took a 22-14 lead and it looked like they were about to pull away with everything clicking, but they lost focus once again and allowed Detroit to claw its way back into the game and it tied Michigan State heading into the locker room 35-35. Dan Fife said at the break on the radio that his team got caught overlooking the Titans and he was right.

Michigan State looked like a team that had been reading its own headlines too much before this one and was expected a 40-point win but was out-toughed on its own floor.

Sure, Michigan State found a way to win, but no one can feel too great about this one. Detroit deserved a win just as much as the Spartans did and probably could have swiped it.

Michigan State is now 4-0 and has to be incredibly thankful of that because it almost coughed up what should have been a comfortable win in East Lansing.

Next. MSU Basketball: 5 bold predictions for December. dark

Home/Spartans Basketball