Michigan State basketball: 3 takeaways from big road win at Maryland

1. Tre Holloman is a serious X-factor

Heading into this season, I would have told you that Tre Holloman was the fifth-best guard on the roster behind Tyson Walker, AJ Hoggard, Jaden Akins, and Jeremy Fears Jr.

Boy, was I wrong.

While Holloman still comes off the bench as Hoggard, Walker, and Akins start, he is still the biggest X-factor on the team because when he plays well, Michigan State usually wins. In fact, the Spartans are an impressive 9-0 when Holloman scores six or more points, according to Jon Rothstein. And the Spartans are 10-0 this season when Holloman scores 10-plus.

If Michigan State is going to exceed expectations in the NCAA Tournament this season or make a push for the Big Ten title, Holloman is going to have to play a major role.

Not only did he have 12 points on Sunday afternoon, he made the game-winning defensive play against Maryland's best player, Jahmir Young. He poked the ball loose in the final seconds, leading to a turnover and winning the Spartans the game.

Oh, and he has the nation's best assist-to-turnover ratio.

Holloman is the key to the title puzzle.