Michigan State basketball: 3 takeaways from loss to No. 18 Alabama

If you’re still struggling today after eating loads of Thanksgiving food, enjoying adult beverages all day, and listening to Bill Walton talk about anything but hoops during Michigan State basketball’s loss to No. 18 Alabama on Thursday night, you’re not alone. We’re all there.

The Spartans dropped a tough one to Alabama on Thanksgiving night in Oregon, 81-70.

Michigan State played the tight close throughout the first half and actually looked like the better team for a good portion of that initial 20 minutes. But the shorthanded Spartans ran out of gas in the second half.

Not having Malik Hall or Jaden Akins really hurt this team.

What did we learn from this Phil Knight Invitational loss?

3. Yes, the lack of depth was the difference

We can look at the final score and say that Alabama was just clearly the better team and that was definitely correct on Thursday, but the Spartans don’t lose that game if they are at full strength.

Prove me wrong.

Michigan State held its own through the first 20 minutes and even built a 31-25 lead at one point before Alabama chipped away and eventually took a 42-37 lead into the locker room after ending the first half on a 17-6 run. Michigan State ran out of gas and had to rely on some wild non-scoring-friendly lineups.

There was a point in the game when MSU had a lineup of Jason Whitens, Tre Holloman, Tyson Walker, Jaxon Kohler, and Pierre Brooks. Outside of Walker and maybe Brooks, who scores in that lineup? It just simply is a quick-breather group for guys like AJ Hoggard, Joey Hauser, and Mady Sissoko to catch their breaths and get back onto the floor minutes later.

The lack of depth was an absolute killer.