Michigan State Basketball: Final grades for the 2021-22 season

GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA - MARCH 20: Marcus Bingham Jr. #30 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts in the second half against the Duke Blue Devils during the second round of the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 20, 2022 in Greenville, South Carolina. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images) /

2 of 5

Duke forward Paolo Banchero (5) is defended by Michigan State forward Marcus Bingham Jr. (30) and guard Max Christie (5) during the second half of the second round of the NCAA tournament at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C.. /

Defense: B+

The defense was a bit better than the offense this season. Michigan State was able to hold perennial stars to lows or make sure they were thrown off their game just enough to make other teammates have to work even harder.

The Spartans were able to hold the best 3-point shooting team in the conference, Purdue, to a dismal 11 percent in their first meeting and then followed that up with holding them to just 33 percent in the Big Ten Tournament. The Spartans also held their opponents to an average of 42 percent from the floor and 31 percent from deep.

They would have gotten an A here but they were very foul-prone. Sending guys to the line for three-point plays or just giving them free points was an issue. They allowed their opponents to average 17 free throws per game and, in some instances, that was the difference between winning and losing.

Home/Spartans Basketball