Michigan State basketball: 3 takeaways from horrible loss to Ohio State

The word "easy" just simply doesn't exist when it comes to Big Ten hoops. And Michigan State basketball found that out on Tuesday against Iowa and then again on Sunday versus Ohio State.

These were supposed to be two easy wins at home but the Spartans found themselves in the middle of a dogfight on their own floor. Even after building a 12-point second-half lead, Michigan State struggled to hold on and Ohio State cut it to just one with about five minutes to play. And then the Buckeyes out-toughed the Spartans in the final minutes to pull of the 60-57 win.

All-around disgusting performance once again by the Spartans.

What did we learn?

3. Tyson Walker is a shell of himself

It's been a forgettable season for the program yet again and it wasn't supposed to be this way. Tyson Walker came in scorching the nets early on and then he suffered a groin injury in the middle of Big Ten play that has hindered him. He hasn't quite looked like himself in weeks and the team is struggling because of that.

His struggles continues on Sunday night as he finished with just 12 points on 5-of-15 shooting and he was a paltry 1-for-6 from 3-point range.

Basically, he struggled and never looked that aggressive with the ball in his hands outside of a quick five points at the end of the first half. He looks a step slower because of that groin and he even missed a free throw that would've given Michigan State a 58-57 lead -- not that it would've mattered because Ohio State hit a prayer at the buzzer anyways.

Walker is not playing like himself and the injury is a major reason for that.