Michigan State Basketball: 3 improvements Spartans can make through 10 games

3. Fouls

Fouls are really just the killjoy in sports, aren’t they? Well, the Spartans have struggled mightily with them this season, ranking 234th in the nation in fouls per game with 15.6.

There’s nothing worse than going on a big run and then having all the momentum sucked out by a foul. It could even go the other way, being down and then giving up an and-one at the other end. It’s a soul sucker and that’s not what you want from your team. One of the biggest weapons to have on your side in sports is momentum, and you don’t want that ruined.

Most of the fouls are coming from the forwards and big men, which are averaging 10 per game. However, the guards themselves are making up 5.6, with almost half coming just from Tyson Walker. It shows aggressiveness, but sometimes, it can go against you.

If the Spartans can tone down the turnovers a bit, take some smarter shots, and clean up the fouls, along with maintaining their defensive stinginess, they should be well set to not only finish among the top in the conference but also make a deep run in March.