Michigan State Basketball: 3 keys to victory against slumping Ohio State
By Nate Rhoades
Michigan State basketball just got pummeled on the road against rival Michigan and have to travel once again to Columbus. What does it need to do?
Michigan State needs to add another signature win to their resume and they have another oppurtunity to do just that on Thursday night when they take on the Ohio State Buckeyes. The Spartans will need to do a lot in order to pull off what would be their second upset in a six-day span.
Ohio State is in a bit of a slump where it has lost its last two games to Maryland and Nebraska, two bottom-dwellers of the conference. EJ Liddell will look to get back on track against the Spartans and Gabe Brown cannot let that happen.
Brown and Malik Hall will need to put on their best performance to beat the Buckeyes and add another big win to their resume. They have the capability to beat anyone it just depends on if they want it and if they can find their passion for the game.
What do the Spartans need to do in this contest?
3. Walker and Hoggard need to be excellent
Hopefully the Spartans will get a healthy AJ Hoggard back who will be good to play his normal minutes against this Ohio State team. Since being placed in the starting lineup a few weeks ago, he has been fantastic. He has shown that he is able to led this team and it needs him back.
Hoggard has averaged 6.6 assists per game since being put into the starting lineup while only turning the ball over 1.8 times per game. He is also contributing 8.8 points per game. Hoggard hustles and gives a spark to this team. Hoggard takes control and you can still see his youth in his game but he is providing good ball movement and getting his teammates involved in this game to put the Spartans within reach to win the game.
Walker has had his ups and downs this season. Walker is a true scorer and he has shown flashes of this throughout the season. He put on a clinic in the second half of the Illinois game ot help the Spartans get back into the game but he does not do this consistent enough. Walker has to be more selfish with the ball at times. He can be the teams highest scorer but he looks timid on the court if he is playing the point by himself.
When Walker plays Ohio State on Thursday, he needs to come out firing. The Buckeyes are worse, on paper, on defense than Purdue is. Ohio State gives their opponents room to work with and Walker cannot hesitate. He needs to take what is given to him and shoot his shots.