Michigan State basketball: 3 takeaways from massive win over No. 4 Kentucky

Folks, it’s time to give this team some serious respect. Michigan State basketball went down to Indianapolis and picked up a monster win over the No. 4 team in the country.

Kentucky came in as the heavy favorite but the Spartans shut the door on the Wildcats to pick up a big win in double-overtime thanks to an incredible game from Mady Sissoko as well as one from Joey Hauser.

On a night when it felt like shots weren’t falling for guys like Jaden Akins, Tyson Walker, and AJ Hoggard, Sissoko and Hauser stepped up to save the day.

Michigan State is now 2-1 on the year and heading into a Friday night bout with Villanova with a ton of confidence and momentum.

3. Two elite baseline out-of-bounds plays saved this game

Late in regulation, Michigan State was down by two points and if you’re anything like me, you were dreading the call out of a timeout by Tom Izzo to try and win the game.

But the first one was perfect as everyone spread out, leaving a lane to the hoop wide open for Malik Hall to crash and he slammed home the tying score with ease. And then at the end of the first overtime, AJ Hoggard hit a streaking Tyson Walker like a quarterback to a receiver and he sprinted down, and passed to Hall who drove to the hoop unguarded for another tying dunk.

If not for those two great play calls, Michigan State doesn’t win this game. Kudos to Izzo and the execution from Hall, Hoggard, and Walker.