Michigan State Basketball: 3 keys for bouncing back to beat Indiana

Feb 1, 2022; College Park, Maryland, USA; Michigan State Spartans forward Gabe Brown (44) shoots a three point basket overt Maryland Terrapins guard Xavier Green (11) during the first half at Xfinity Center. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 1, 2022; College Park, Maryland, USA; Michigan State Spartans forward Gabe Brown (44) shoots a three point basket overt Maryland Terrapins guard Xavier Green (11) during the first half at Xfinity Center. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 2, 2021; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Indiana Hoosiers forward Trayce Jackson-Davis (23) shoots as Michigan State Spartans forward Malik Hall (25) defends during the first half at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 2, 2021; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Indiana Hoosiers forward Trayce Jackson-Davis (23) shoots as Michigan State Spartans forward Malik Hall (25) defends during the first half at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Contain Trayce Jackson-Davis

Marcus Bingham will have his hands full taking on the tough Trayce Jackson-Davis who is Indiana’s leading scorer and their main offense. If the Spartans can contain him and make his day difficult, good things can happen.

What are some ways to make Trayce uncomfortable?

You could throw a double team his way every once in a while. They would have to be strategic in doing this because you would not want to bring the double team every time. You could have someone dig on him and try to knock the ball loose while Bingham is playing his tough defense on him. You could then bring the second defender down to throw Jackson-Davis off his game.

Bingham also needs to be a straight-up defender. The Spartans cannot rely too much on a second defender because Jackson-Davis has good awareness and is able to make a pass for a deep three if the defender comes — not only Bingham but Julius Marble and Mady Sissoko.

The Spartans are deep in the big department they can force Trayce Jackson-Davis to earn those points from the free-throw line. If the Spartans can contain this beast of a player, they will feel really good about the outcome of the game.