After securing a sixth straight win to end non-conference play on a high note, Michigan State basketball gets a few days off to prepare for the return of Big Ten action.
The Spartans are 11-2 on the season, ranked No. 18 in the country, and playing some of the best basketball that East Lansing has seen since the Cassius Winston era. But there are still some concerns regarding this team heading into Big Ten play.
One of the main concerns is what to do about Xavier Booker.
The sophomore big man was playing some of the best basketball of his career from the North Carolina game in Maui until recently, but he struggled a bit against Western Michigan and looked completely checked out. He had just two points and two rebounds and when his shot was falling, he looked disinterested and frustrated. That can't continue into Big Ten play.
Sure, there are going to be nights when his shot isn't falling and he's not going to score 10-15 points, but he can't let his body language look the way it did.
Heck, even late in the game when he was on the bench and Michigan State was pulling away, the camera cut to the bench after a big play and Szymon Zapala and Gehrig Normand were celebrating with everyone else and he just sat there emotionless. That's just not a great look.
Team chemistry is at an all-time high and he's part of that so he can't let a frustrating performance affect everyone else. He's too good for that.
We all know he's not going to be on every single night, but he has to put forth an effort when things aren't going his way. No falling asleep on defense when he's struggling offensively and no more poor body language in these instances. The Spartans need more from him in Big Ten play.