Michigan State Basketball: 3 takeaways from impressive win at Minnesota

1. This team has some serious potential

Before the year, there were many who were worried that Michigan State didn’t have any “killers” who could go out and get a bucket when they need to. They were worried that the losses of Aaron Henry, Josh Langford, Thomas Kithier, Rocket Watts, and Foster Loyer would decimate the depth on the roster and this team would take another step back.

That definitely hasn’t happened and it doesn’t look imminent, either.

Michigan State began the year unranked and lost the first game against Kansas in the Champions Classic despite keeping pace with the Jayhawks for 30 minutes. Since that loss, Michigan State has won 8-of-9 games, improving to 8-2 on the year and jumping up to No. 19 in the latest AP Top 25. They look like serious Big Ten contenders.

Will the Spartans beat Purdue? Not if they can’t put together a full 40 minutes (which they arguably haven’t been able to do yet) but this team can hang with absolutely anyone (they led Baylor in the first half and kept things close until a late pull-away).

Michigan State has proven itself with great defense, balanced scoring, and solid play from the veterans and leaders. There’s a good mixture of veterans and young talent and this team is growing before our eyes.

That showed in a hostile road environment to start Big Ten play on Wednesday.