Michigan State basketball: 3 takeaways from scary win over Portland

1. This team can shoot the ball

Inconsistency has plagued Michigan State this year but when the Spartans are on, they’re borderline unstoppable offensively.

Guys like Tyson Walker, Pierre Brooks, and Joey Hauser all have the ability to shoot the deep ball at a high rate and each one can get hot at any given time. Then you have Mady Sissoko and AJ Hoggard who can cause problems getting into the paint. Sissoko is a lob threat and Hoggard is a physical guard who loves to drive and draw contact and his body control is impressive.

While the defense struggled to really stop anyone on Portland in the first half, the offense hung in there and only trailed by eight despite the Pilots hitting nine first-half threes.

The offense kept this team afloat and it helped lead them out in front in the second half. Hauser hit some big shots, Walker was automatic again from mid-range and had a couple of big threes, and Brooks showed zero hesitation, making four 3-pointers and finishing 5-for-7 from the floor.

This team can really shoot and two more strong shooters (Malik Hall and Jaden Akins) aren’t even back yet. The potential of this offense is sky-high.