Michigan State Basketball: 3 keys to turnaround after horrid Big Ten start

1. Maintain defensive momentum

Easily the No. 1 way Michigan State can get back on track is to maintain that momentum on the defensive end that it’s built over the last two games.

In fact, Michigan State has allowed an average of 50 points per game over the past two outings against Rutgers and Purdue and although the Spartans are 1-1 in that span, they should be 2-0 and riding a three-game winning streak. That Purdue loss was not because of the defense.

Sure, a little improvement in post defense against elite bigs in the Big Ten could go a long way, but Michigan State has been much better all around on that end of the floor. There’s more life from this team on the defensive end in the past two games than there has been in months.

Michigan State has to do more of what it’s done in the past two games than the lackluster play we saw from the first two months of the year. The potential for an elite defense is there, but not living up to that cost the Spartans positioning in the standings to start Big Ten play.