Michigan State basketball: Charity scrimmage vs. Tennessee will pay huge dividends

The 2023-24 Michigan State basketball season hasn’t officially started yet but we already got a good gauge on what this team needs to work on and its strengths as well.

Michigan State hosted No. 9 Tennessee in one of the better exhibition games we’ll probably ever see on Sunday night and the Spartans fell 89-88. But it didn’t feel like a loss. Why? Well, for one, it didn’t count. And two, it was a valuable experience that will undoubtedly help this team in the long run.

The Spartans now have a full game of film against a top-10 team to use and dissect before the regular season starts plus they know what it’s like to play from behind against an elite team.

Michigan State trailed 17-1 to start the game and it scratched and clawed its way back into it, tying things up on an AJ Hoggard 3-pointed with about four seconds left.

Unfortunately, a questionable foul call on Tre Holloman led to the game-winning free throw, but this was an all-around great experience with no negatives.

Michigan State basketball will grow from this

There’s no doubt about it, Michigan State is only going to get better because this scrimmage happened. They know what it takes to beat one of the best teams in the country, they know how to calmly respond after getting punched in the teeth to start a game, and they know how to score in bunches with that deep rotation.

The freshmen gained some valuable experience and it was a chance for them to gel with the upperclassmen and veterans.

If you were worried about Michigan State losing to Tennessee at home without a couple of Vols playing, don’t be. This is only going to help both sides.

And heck, the Spartans may see Tennessee again in March.