Michigan State basketball: 3 takeaways from pull-away win at Michigan

Michigan State basketball improved to 17-9 on the season and 9-6 in Big Ten play with a 73-63 road win over Michigan on Saturday night.

The Spartans didn't play their best game of the season and yet still came away with a double-digit win on the road. No, Michigan is not a good team and it's probably the worst in the Big Ten, but going on the road and winning is something that has not been easy in conference play this year.

Michigan State is now on a three-game winning streak and it feels like it's turning a corner.

What did we learn from Saturday's win over the Wolverines?

3. The center problem continued

Yet again, Michigan State had a problem in the post with Mady Sissoko struggling again and playing just seven minutes and Jaxon Kohler couldn't buy a layup. Carson Cooper struggled to slow down Tarris Reed on the defensive end, but he showed flashes.

And then there was Xavier Booker who played just three minutes and actually showed an improved motor with a couple of big rebounds.

But there's no one standing out still which is a problem 26 games into the season. There is potential there with guys like Booker and Kohler on the offensive end and then Cooper and Sissoko on defense, but there's just no all-around player standing out right now. That's been the most frustrating part about this team.

If Booker or Kohler can step up moving forward, this team's ceiling rises drastically.