One-hundred-twenty minutes. With three games to go, that’s how long MSU has left in a regular season that could hold a potential Big Ten title.
The Spartans will need Michigan to lose at least one of its remaining games, but MSU also could help itself in the home stretch. I’m not the old ball coach, but if I was, this is what I would be preaching to the Spartans.
Learn to play with each other, again
Have you ever gathered with a group of strangers and played pick-up basketball with them? Well that’s basically what MSU looks like it’s been doing for the last month.
Ever since senior forward Adreian Payne returned from his foot injury, the Spartans have gone 3-3. Ever since senior guard Keith Appling got back from his hand injury, MSU has gone 1-2. It’s no easy task changing a team’s dynamic nearly every single week.
With junior forward Branden Dawson making a return in the near future, they will quickly need to relearn how play with him. It’s a lot easier said than done, but if MSU wants any chance of tying for a share of the Big Ten title, they’ll need to win its final three games.
Know when to fold ‘em
When it’s not your day, it’s not your day. In my opinion, sophomore guard Gary Harris is the best all-around player MSU has to offer, but there has been a handful of games he has been too trigger-happy on the wrong day.
Four out of MSU’s last five losses have seen Harris shoot at least 30 percent of the team’s shots.
In all four of those games, Harris shot 43 percent or less from the field. I’m not solely pegging all the losses on Harris by any means, but when the shot isn’t your moneymaker on a given night, it’s probably a smart idea to spread the wealth and share the ball.
Make this week count
I know it’s halfway over, but this week off is crucial for MSU. Did you see the Spartan players in the second half against U-M? You could have convinced me they participated in an Ironman Triathlon at halftime.
That’s what happens when you play four games in 11 days, but the Spartans should end up healthier.
Matt Sheehan is a State News men’s basketball reporter. Reach him at msheehan@statenews.com.
