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Michigan State basketball: 3 takeaways from Thanksgiving Day loss to Arizona

By Connor Muldowney

Michigan State Spartans guard Jeremy Fears Jr. (1) controls the ball as Arizona Wildcats guard Jaden Bradley (0) looks on during the Acrisure Classic in Palm Desert, Calif., on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 23, 2023.
Michigan State Spartans guard Jeremy Fears Jr. (1) controls the ball as Arizona Wildcats guard Jaden Bradley (0) looks on during the Acrisure Classic in Palm Desert, Calif., on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 23, 2023. /
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Arizona Wildcats guard Caleb Love (2) drives to the basket as Michigan State Spartans forward Coen Carr (55), left, defends during the Acrisure Classic in Palm Desert, Calif., on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 23, 2023.
Arizona Wildcats guard Caleb Love (2) drives to the basket as Michigan State Spartans forward Coen Carr (55), left, defends during the Acrisure Classic in Palm Desert, Calif., on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 23, 2023. /

2. The defense continues to impress

Coming into this game, Arizona was averaging nearly 100 points per game and the Wildcats were pretty much doing whatever they wanted against every opponent.

That didn’t happen against Michigan State.

The Spartans gave up 40 points in the first half and it felt like Arizona was going to have another huge offensive game, but the defense stepped up in a big way in the second half, holding the Wildcats to 34 points, but more importantly, no easy shots were given up. Arizona did shoot about 46 percent from the floor, but Caleb Love was just 7-for-20 from the floor and Kylan Boswell was just 5-for-15.

If not for some poor boxing out late in the game which led to easy second-chance points, the Spartans would have held Arizona under 70 points. That’s unheard of.

If the offense can catch up to the defense, watch out.

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