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Michigan State basketball: 3 quick reactions to tough loss at No. 24 Illinois

By Nate Rhoades

Dec 21, 2021; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo looks on with his arms crossed during the second half against the Oakland Golden Grizzlies at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 21, 2021; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo looks on with his arms crossed during the second half against the Oakland Golden Grizzlies at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 25, 2022; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Michigan State Spartans forward Marcus Bingham Jr. (30) grabs the arm of Illinois Fighting Illini forward Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk (13) as he drives to the basket during the first half at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 25, 2022; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Michigan State Spartans forward Marcus Bingham Jr. (30) grabs the arm of Illinois Fighting Illini forward Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk (13) as he drives to the basket during the first half at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Marcus Bingham is close to being his normal self again

Marcus Bingham has not been the same player in January as he was at the beginning of the season. He was out in the High Point game because of COVID-19 and since being back on the floor, his conditioning and ability to be the physical force just has not been there.

Bingham, however, in this game against Illinois showed that he is progressing forward in getting back to his normal self. He was able to put up numbers like he was at the beginning of the season. Bingham ended the game with four blocks again and he was also able to put up double-digit points.

Bingham ended the game with 13 points on 4-for-7 shooting. This is the most he has scored since the first game of the month when he had 13 as well. The last four games have been dismal to watch as he has been sluggish and unmotivated. He was held out most of the second half a few games ago because of effort-related issues which we haven’t seen from Bingham until this month.

The senior big man finding his rhythm again is huge for the Spartans. When Bingham is playing at his best, his defense gets better and that feeds into him running the floor and finding his spots on the offense side of the ball. That is what we saw from him in this tough loss against Illinois.

Bingham might not be fully back to where he was pre-COVID but he is getting closer and that is huge for the Spartans.

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