Michigan State Basketball: 3 takeaways from blowout win over Butler

Michigan State Spartans guard Max Christie (5) shoots the ball past Butler Bulldogs guard Jair Bolden (52) on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021 at Hinkle Fieldhouse, in Indianapolis. Michigan State Spartans lead at the half, 31-23.Ncaa Basketball Ini 1117 Ncaa Men S Basketball Michigan State At Butler /

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Nov 12, 2021; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Western MichiganÕs Markeese Hastings (0) gets a shot blocked by Michigan StateÕs Marcus Bingham Jr (30) at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Dale Young-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Marcus Bingham Jr. has Big Ten DPOY potential

I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again: Marcus Bingham Jr. has the potential to be the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. We saw that on Wednesday night with how disruptive he was in the post against the Bulldogs.

Bingham is a blocking machine and he finished the game with six swats to go along with two steals. Butler had a tough time working on him all night long and his length continues to be a problem for opposing offenses. If he works on that offensive game (he did have 10 points), he’s going to be an All-Big Ten candidate, but for now, I’m thinking lockdown defender first.

What Bingham lacks in muscle, he makes up for in length and it showed as he was just a menace in the post, breaking up passes, forcing turnovers, and swatting any shot that came his way.

In just three games this season, he has 10 blocks and five steals to go along with 21 boards. He’s looking the part of a dominant defender in the post and when that offense comes around, watch out.

This is the player we’ve been waiting to see for four years now.

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