2. The Spartans must do better on the defensive glass
If there's one area that has killed Michigan State this season, and especially in Big Ten play, it's on the defensive glass. While Michigan State did win the rebounding battle 37-30, they allowed an astounding 14 (!!) offensive rebounds to the Wildcats who are one of the worst rebounding teams in the Big Ten.
Michigan State has been giving up way too many offensive rebounds this season and that's truly my only gripe with this team other than the fact I think it could afford to shoot better from deep.
But Michigan State did make 50 percent of its deep shots on Sunday afternoon which made for one of the better shooting performances of the season despite taking just eight threes.
We need to see better crashing of the defensive glass from the guards and stronger box-outs from guys like Carson Cooper, Xavier Booker, and Szymon Zapala. There's no way this team should have allowed 14 offensive rebounds to a team like Northwestern.