Michigan State basketball: 3 takeaways from tough loss to No. 3 Purdue

1. This team has the pieces to make a run, when healthy

Yes, Michigan State lost. No, there are no moral victories here. But at the very least, Monday’s loss to Purdue showed us that the Spartans are as good as any team in the conference and they can make a serious run, especially when they’re healthy.

Even without Malik Hall who is arguably the second or third-most important player on the team, the Spartans probably should have beaten the No. 3 Boilermakers.

And when healthy, Michigan State is 6-2. And there’s an asterisk on those two losses (one to Gonzaga and one to Illinois) because Jaden Akins was in his first game back from injury against the Bulldogs and they only lost by one and Hall was lost in the final 10 minutes at Illinois and a comfortable lead melted away after that.

If Michigan State can get Hall back sooner rather than later, the Spartans have the pieces to make a run not only in the Big Ten but on a national level.