Michigan State Basketball: 3 keys to victory against No. 12 Illinois

Feb 12, 2022; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Tyson Walker (2), guard Jaden Akins (3), forward Malik Hall (25) and forward Julius Marble II (34) cheer on the team in the second half at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Dale Young-USA TODAY Sports /

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Michigan State’s Max Christie makes a 3-poitner against Minnesota during the first half on Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.220112 Msu Minn 090a /

1. Score more than 65 points

This sounds like an obvious key, if you score more frequently, you will win the game. Clearly, that is the case, but the key for the Spartans is to score 65 points.

It’s a night-and-day difference when the Spartans can score 65 points. When they score 65 points, the Spartans have a record of 16-1. That lone loss come to a very good Kansas team which was their first game of the season. When the Spartans do not score 65 points, they are just 2-6. Those two wins were by only two points apiece and came down to the wire.

This team has been said to be the best shooting team Tom Izzo has possibly ever had. We have seen bits of this shooting prowess throughout this season but it has not been consistent. This team has a number of players that can put up 10-15 points on any given night from Gabe Brown to Malik Hall to Joey Hauser, Julius Marble, and even AJ Hoggard. These players just need to come out and make their shots.

They have the ability to do this.

They have shot over 50 percent from the floor seven times this season and need to put another one of those shooting performances together again if they want to beat this Illinois team.

Next. MSU's 2022 recruiting class superlatives. dark

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