Michigan State Basketball: 3 takeaways from clutch win over Loyola Chicago

2. Malik Hall is becoming that dude

The term “that dude” refers to someone who is taking over and looking like a budding star. In year three, Malik Hall was expected to take the next step, after earning a captain role, and become that dude. He had all the potential to be a star for the Spartans but through three games, he was kind of a ghost. He would disappear and take himself out of games by not being aggressive.

Over the last two games, a monster has been unleashed.

Hall scored a career-high 24 points and went 9-for-9 from the floor. He is averaging 19.5 points and eight rebounds per game over the last two contests and he looks like the guy everyone expected him to be before the season, and then some.

If Hall can continue to grow into this go-to role on offense, he’s going to take the Spartans to the next level.

What impressed me the most was his confidence. His fellow captain, Gabe Brown, picked up a fourth foul and had to go to the bench in the second half and Hall stepped up as a scorer and really put the team on his back. He didn’t miss a shot and did the scoring from everywhere on the floor by himself.

Hall drove to the basket, faded away, hit a big three, slammed in an alley-oop, and was perfect from the free throw line.

More of this Malik Hall, please.