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Michigan State basketball: 3 takeaways from exhibition win over GVSU

By Connor Muldowney

UNIVERSITY PARK, PENNSYLVANIA - FEBRUARY 15: A.J. Hoggard #11 of the Michigan State Spartans handles the ball against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Bryce Jordan Center on February 15, 2022 in University Park, Pennsylvania. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
UNIVERSITY PARK, PENNSYLVANIA - FEBRUARY 15: A.J. Hoggard #11 of the Michigan State Spartans handles the ball against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Bryce Jordan Center on February 15, 2022 in University Park, Pennsylvania. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) /
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MSU basketball coach Tom Izzo looks up at the scoreboard during the Spartans’ annual Michigan State Madness scrimmage Friday, Oct. 7, 2022, at the Breslin Center.Dsc 1320
MSU basketball coach Tom Izzo looks up at the scoreboard during the Spartans’ annual Michigan State Madness scrimmage Friday, Oct. 7, 2022, at the Breslin Center.Dsc 1320 /

2. Turnovers are still an issue

One thing that I can say that really drove me nuts watching the game on Tuesday night (yes, I get worked up over exhibition games, too) was the number of sloppy turnovers the Spartans had.

AJ Hoggard would push the ball up the floor without a plan and dribble into traffic and get the ball swiped. Or he’d fire the ball into the post way too hard and it’d bounce off Mady Sissoko’s hands and out of bounds. Or Joey Hauser would lose the ball in the post on a back-down or due to a creeping defender on the wing. Malik Hall would even try to force a play in the post with three defenders on him — or dribble right out of bounds like he did early in the first half.

Turnovers were a major issue last season and led to a lot of losses and sloppy play, especially on the road, and they look to be somewhat of an issue still.

Sure, it’s just one exhibition and things will get sorted out and corrected, but this team has to value each possession a little more.

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