Michigan State basketball: 3 takeaways from tight win over Oregon

PORTLAND, OREGON - NOVEMBER 24: Jaxon Kohler #0, Joey Hauser #10, A.J. Hoggard #11, Tre Holloman #5, and Tyson Walker #2 of the Michigan State Spartans walk back to the court after a timeout during the second half against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Moda Center on November 24, 2022 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images) /

3 of 3

Nov 24, 2022; Portland, Oregon, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Tyson Walker (2) drives to the basket during the first half against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports /

1. First seven games of the year have a chance to be a major success

If you would have told me before the year that Michigan State would be 5-2 after the first seven games of the year with the schedule that it had, I would have called you insane.

If you told me before the PKI that Michigan State would potentially be 2-1 on the weekend without Malik Hall and Jaden Akins, I would have called you insane.

Well, I’m pleasantly surprised, and you’re not insane.

Michigan State hung with Alabama despite being shorthanded but just ran out of gas in the second half. They battled an also shorthanded Oregon team and needed to fight down to the wire to hold on to the fourth win of the year and first of the weekend.

I’m shocked at how well this team has fared with only 10 scholarship players through the first four games and just eight over the last two.

Home/Spartans Basketball