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Michigan State Basketball: 3 takeaways from upset loss to Northwestern

By Connor Muldowney

Dec 20, 2020; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Michigan State Spartans forward Malik Hall (25) is defended by Northwestern Wildcats guard Chase Audige (1) during the first half at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 20, 2020; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Michigan State Spartans forward Malik Hall (25) is defended by Northwestern Wildcats guard Chase Audige (1) during the first half at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 6, 2020; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Rocket Watts (2) passes the ball during the first half against the Western Michigan Broncos at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 6, 2020; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Rocket Watts (2) passes the ball during the first half against the Western Michigan Broncos at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /

2. The starters didn’t show up to play

From top to bottom of the starting five, the Spartans got next to no production from this group compared to the bench. The bench actually out-scored the starters 33-32 and that was one of the reasons you saw guys like Jack Hoiberg, AJ Hoggard and Mady Sissoko on the floor with about two minutes left and the Spartans down 12 instead of the starters.

Tom Izzo was trying to teach a lesson.

Michigan State’s big names didn’t show up to play on Sunday night as Aaron Henry looked bad on both ends of the floor, Joshua Langford played well but made silly mistakes and got into foul trouble before fouling out with eight minutes left, Rocket Watts was ice-cold all game and Joey Hauser was struggling before he got injured.

This can’t happen in Big Ten play. Every team is going to come out and give Michigan State their best shot and when the starters aren’t ready to punch back, that’s a problem.

It’s great to have depth, but when Hauser, Watts and Langford are all scoring in single figures while Henry has just 11 and Thomas Kithier is a non-factor, it doesn’t much matter how deep you are.

The stars have to show up, especially against teams like Northwestern.

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