The top teams in college basketball are beginning to separate themselves from the pack — and Michigan State basketball is one of those “top” teams.
The Spartans are 7-0 on the season for the first time since 2015-16, and Tom Izzo has the team rolling through the first month of the season. They have beaten three ranked teams along the way, taking No. 16 North Carolina down on Thursday evening, 74-58.
While the team is obviously good, there are some numbers that prove it could be great.
Michigan State has a solid offense, but it’s not going to score 100 points every game, but the defense might just be the best in the nation so far this season.
And the numbers prove it.
The numbers are saying that Michigan State’s defense is one of the nation’s stingiest, even thought it’s not ranked No. 1 in points allowed — that’s the Spartans’ next opponent, Duke. While the Blue Devils allow 57 points per game, tops in the nation, Michigan State’s may be the stingiest, given the strength of schedule.
Duke’s best win was against Kansas, and the Blue Devils held the Jayhawks to just 66. Michigan State (which was 12th nationally in points allowed) has played three ranked teams, and none of them have scored over 66. Even more impressive, the Spartans just held a team that averaged 87.5 points per game coming into Thursday’s contest to just 58.
If you look at the three games against ranked teams, Michigan State’s defense was suffocating.
Kentucky shot just 35 percent against the Spartans, and the Wildcats have scored at least 77 against every opponent this season, besides one: Michigan State. Arkansas has scored at least 79 against every opponent this season, besides one: MIchigan State. The Razorbacks also shot just 39 percent from the floor. North Carolina has scored at least 73 points against every opponent this season, besides one: Michigan State. The Tar Heels had also been held under 85 just one other time. Oh, and it shot just 38 percent against the Spartans.
Three ranked teams in the top 16 held to season-lows in points and also held under 40 percent shooting. Yeah, this defense is not only legit, it’s elite, and potentially the best in the nation.