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Michigan State Basketball: 3 takeaways from monster upset of No. 4 Ohio State

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN - FEBRUARY 25: A.J. Hoggard #11 and Rocket Watts #2 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates 71 - 67 win against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Breslin Center on February 25, 2021 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN - FEBRUARY 25: A.J. Hoggard #11 and Rocket Watts #2 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates 71 - 67 win against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Breslin Center on February 25, 2021 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
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EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN – FEBRUARY 25: Rocket Watts #2 and Aaron Henry #0 of the Michigan State Spartans walk onto the court after a time out in the first half of the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Breslin Center on February 25, 2021 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN – FEBRUARY 25: Rocket Watts #2 and Aaron Henry #0 of the Michigan State Spartans walk onto the court after a time out in the first half of the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Breslin Center on February 25, 2021 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

1. We are watching Spartan basketball again

Why did we have to wait two months for this to happen? Why, after a 6-0 start to the season, did this team just regress into mediocrity and losing seven of their first nine conference games?

There’s no simple answer to these questions, but a lot had to do with a will to win and confidence. Guys like Rocket Watts and Joey Hauser have struggled with confidence and Joshua Langford can even be in that category as well. Langford had moments where he looked like a shell of his former self and Aaron Henry was tasked with putting the team on his back.

Unfortunately, one-man teams don’t often win in college basketball.

Something clicked in the second half of the Indiana game last weekend, though. The Spartans were losing, but then shots started falling, confidence was building and energy was sparking. Michigan State was playing tough Spartan basketball again, leading to a big road win.

Needing much of the same against Illinois a few days later, Michigan State toughed up and followed Henry and Langford’s lead to a big win. The Spartans played tough defense and won a typical MSU dogfight. This was Spartan basketball. This is what won them three straight Big Ten titles.

And once again on Thursday night, Michigan State found itself in a tough spot, down by seven in the second half with Ohio State on the verge of pulling away. They toughed up, Langford blocked a big shot and the Spartans put together a nice run en route to a huge victory.

Folks, this is Spartan basketball.

Next. 3 takeaways from huge win over No. 5 Illinois. dark

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