Michigan State basketball: 3 reasons the Spartans will knock off No. 17 Indiana

1. The defense is going to bounce back in a big way

We all watched as Michigan State couldn’t seem to slow down Dug McDaniel, Tarris Reed, and Kobe Bufkin, losing because of two role players and a budding star. It would have been one thing if Jett Howard and Hunter Dickinson beat the Spartans because that’s what they’re expected to do, but they got burned by some unlikely heroes.

Tom Izzo had to watch the tape and be sick to his stomach over his team’s defense.

Yes, Michigan made some tough shots, but the Wolverines also got some easy baskets thanks to clean looks. The defense was just not good enough, leading to one of the worst performances of the season on that end of the floor, giving up 84 points.

The last time Michigan State met Indiana, the Hoosiers scored 82.

Long story short, Izzo has likely been preaching defense for the past couple of days at practice to make sure his team doesn’t come out flat on that end again.

I think the defense bounces back and plays like the elite unit it’s been for weeks prior to the Michigan loss. That should be enough to beat Indiana.