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Michigan State Basketball: 3 quick reactions to commanding win over Michigan

By Nate Rhoades

Michigan State's Max Christie, right, moves with the ball as Michigan's Kobe Bufkin defends during the second half on Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.220129 Msu Mich 224a
Michigan State's Max Christie, right, moves with the ball as Michigan's Kobe Bufkin defends during the second half on Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.220129 Msu Mich 224a /
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Michigan State’s Malik Hall, left, shoots as Michigan’s Hunter Dickinson defends during the first half on Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.220129 Msu Mich 165a
Michigan State’s Malik Hall, left, shoots as Michigan’s Hunter Dickinson defends during the first half on Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.220129 Msu Mich 165a /

2. The tale of two halves

This team does not play a full-out 40-minute game. The Spartans are right there on the cusp of being a great team but right now they are just good. They are a top-10 team but they have yet to turn the page to turn into a top-five team.

This Spartan team has such a high ceiling and yet they have a very low floor. The way they turn the ball over in the first half of most games is unsettling. The way they rebound the ball, or should I say lack of rebounding the ball, is underwhelming.

However, the way this team defends is fantastic. The way they shoot the ball is said to be one of Tom Izzo’s best shooting teams he has ever coached. They just have to string halves together.

In many games this year, the Spartans have started out of the gate with sloppy turnovers. In this game against Michigan, they had another nine turnovers in the first half and then followed that up with only four turnovers. If the Spartans can come out of the gate with that ferocity of not turning the ball over they would be nearly unstoppable.

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