Spartan Avenue
Fansided

Michigan State Basketball: 3 takeaways from loss to No. 9 Wisconsin

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN - DECEMBER 25: Brad Davison #34 and Nate Reuvers #35 of the Wisconsin Badgers box out Marcus Bingham Jr. #30 of the Michigan State Spartans in the first half of the game against at Breslin Center on December 25, 2020 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN - DECEMBER 25: Brad Davison #34 and Nate Reuvers #35 of the Wisconsin Badgers box out Marcus Bingham Jr. #30 of the Michigan State Spartans in the first half of the game against at Breslin Center on December 25, 2020 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 3
Next

For a second straight game to begin Big Ten play, Michigan State basketball looked sloppy in a loss. This time to No. 9 Wisconsin at the Breslin Center.

Two straight underwhelming performances to begin Big Ten play doesn’t exactly scream “contender” and Michigan State finds itself 0-2 in conference play and looking at a massive uphill climb throughout the rest of the season.

After a 6-0 start to the year, Michigan State dropped its Big Ten opener to Northwestern and then lost a tough one to Wisconsin after leading by nine points early in the second half.

Wisconsin went on to put the game away in the final minutes as Michigan State continued to turn the ball over and miss easy baskets. It seemed like Joey Hauser was the only one who showed up to play as he scored a career-high 27 points.

What did we learn from yet another bad loss?

3. The five-spot is a major liability

Michigan State just doesn’t have anyone to play the five effectively right now. Before the season, I had hoped it would be Marcus Bingham Jr. to replace Xavier Tillman, but that hasn’t quite panned out yet. And Julius Marble gives good minutes but he only plays in spurts. Thomas Kithier has been OK but nothing special and is just a body on offense with no potential there.

Joey Hauser plays the four and has his ups and downs on defense and Malik Hall is the same and gets caught going for the pump fake way too much.

We haven’t seen Mady Sissoko develop yet as Michigan State is searching for answers at the five and that’s the one major weakness of this team heading into the heart of Big Ten play. Not exactly a great feeling.

Home/Spartans Basketball