Three Takeaways: MSU-Tenn Tech Recap

Another game, another flirtation with disaster for Tom Izzo’s bunch. Quick recap.

1. Free Throws, Not Great!

One of the reasons TTU was almost able to pull this one out was MSU’s complete ineptitude at the free throw line /has violent flashback to 2014. Let’s not go down that road.

The Spartans went a startling 17/30 from the charity stripe. For a team that’s already shorthanded and young, these are the types of opportunities they can’t afford to miss once better competition comes to town.

Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

2. Defense, Pretty Good!

TTU went long stretches without scoring a bucket which was a welcome sight. Some of this may have had to do with the fact MSU was, for once, not at a real size disadvantage.

3. More Injuries, Cool!

Matt McQuaid sat this one out with a head injury after hitting his head in practice this week. Better safe than sorry, but the injury bug has bitten an already thin team MSU hard and early.

McQuaid joins Miles Bridges, Josh Langford, Gavin Schilling and Ben Carter (and more?) on the list of Spartans who have missed at least a game with injury. Let’s hope they’re just getting this out of the way now.

BONUS: Fun Stuff

• Good Eron Harris (20 pts, 5/11 from 3) came to play on both ends of the floor today.
• Cassius Winston now has 9 assists in each of his last 3 games and leads the nation is assist percentage.
• Josh Langford tied his season high for minutes (23) and once again scored in double digits.

MSU get’s eight days off until their next game on 12/18 against Northeastern.