For 32 minutes, we had to suffer through one of the worst Michigan State basketball performances that we've seen all year. It was just uncharacteristically bad basketball from Tom Izzo's squad.
The Spartans were still able to hold on and pull away with a 68-52 win on the road over Oregon, marking their fifth straight Big Ten victory by 10-plus points. Even the ugly wins turn into blowouts, and that's what you have to respect about this team.
What'd we learn from this ho-hum win over Oregon?
1. That will probably be the worst team this plays for a while
OK, so hopefully, and not probably, but yes, this was just a horrible game for about 32 minutes.
The Spartans were running disjointed half-court sets, they were missing open shots, they were turning the ball over. It was just bad all around, but thankfully, they woke up in the final eight minutes.
It looked like a potential upset was brewing, but the Spartans clutched up, put their foot on the gas, and cruised to another double-digit win against a Big Ten opponent -- their fifth straight.
We may not see MSU play this poorly for the rest of the year.
2. Trey Fort game?
Trey Fort had been waiting for a moment like this to come off the bench and give the Spartans the spark that they desperately needed. He came in, looked a little shaky on his first shot, but then kept his wits about him, focused up, and hit his next four shots to finish the game with nine.
Fort looked confident, hungry, and he wasn't afraid of the moment.
This may be the game that gets him back on track.
3. Carson Cooper's growth has been fun to watch
A couple of years ago, it looked like Carson Cooper would never really turn the corner. He was still playing like a baby deer who hadn't figured out his legs yet, but he's since become a really good defender, a plus rim-protector, a good rebounder, and now even an offensive weapon.
Never thought I'd type those words.
If you don't guard Cooper, he will make you pay in the midrange, and he's not afraid to go back-to-basket and make a move with a bunny hook or Rasheed Wallace-like fadeaway.
Cooper might just be the most improved player on the team -- it's either him or Jaxon Kohler.