Michigan State basketball: 3 takeaways from win over Southern Indiana
![Michigan State's Jaden Akins, left, dunks as Southern Indiana's AJ Smith defends during the first half on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. Michigan State's Jaden Akins, left, dunks as Southern Indiana's AJ Smith defends during the first half on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/65969304d98dc3ccf334b5c041aeccf08067f7909dae2798868bababe54f14b7.jpg)
1. Tom Izzo still has a lot to work on before Tuesday
There’s a big game looming for the Spartans on Tuesday night in Chicago. It’s the Champions Classic against Duke. The Spartans probably hoped to be 2-0 and beaming with confidence at this point, but that’s just not quite the case.
Michigan State experienced many of the same issues that it had in an opening loss to James Madison whether it was rebounding woes, sloppy turnovers, or missing easy baskets, the Spartans just couldn’t seem to play a complete game. Heck, Southern Indiana went on a 12-0 run early in the second half.
That’s not going to fly on Tuesday.
Tom Izzo has a ton of coaching to do before his team takes the court again. A lot of improvement has to come at practice between now and Tuesday night.
If there’s any coach who can get the job done, though, it’s Izzo.
Next. 5 coaching candidates who have fallen off the radar. dark