3. Jaden Akins was the guy
While most of the rest of the team looked disjointed and clunky, senior guard Jaden Akins was the steady hand for the Spartans. His play was the reason Michigan State was able to hold on and eventually pull away. He was just solid all afternoon long.
Akins finished with 18 points on 6-of-13 shooting and made a couple of threes while also grabbing two rebounds and dishing an assist.
When the season began, there was talk about who would be 'the guy' for this team. Who would be this season's Tyson Walker? After seeing the Spartans pull away on Akins' back on Monday, it feels like it's him. He had a quiet 18 points but it led all scorers and he's just about automatic in the mid range.
Hopefully Akins can be the guy moving forward because this team could use a go-to scorer.