Michigan State Basketball: 3 quick thoughts after big win over Louisville

2. Spartans need to finish strong

Michigan State was up by as much as 20 points with just over seven minutes remaining in the second half. After this, the Spartans took their foot off the gas and let the Cardinals creep back into the game.

In the next 5.5 minutes, the Cardinals went on a 19-7 run. This is because of those offensive rebounds, but also because of the turnovers MSU was committing. They also could not make a shot. When the Spartans are up big they tend to take their foot off the gas just a little and when this happens is when they start to falter and let their opponent back into the game.

Michigan State has to finish games strong. They also were in the game against Baylor but they did not come out in the second half with the same type of energy. They fell flat and did not finish strong. The same can be said in the season opener against Kansas. The Spartans and Jayhawks were going back and forth all night until there were only about 10 minutes remaining — the Spartans just did not finish strong.

If the Spartans can turn this page and figure out how to finish second halves strong, especially against a ranked team, then they can make a deep run.

This once-underrated team is slowly showing who they really are and it is going to be an exciting year once they turn this page.