Couch: 3 quick takes (from afar) on Michigan State's 75-67 win at Minnesota
1. MSU always had an answer at Minnesota – that’s a critical trait on the road
If Michigan State had played a clean game — absent some memorable late turnovers — it would have beaten Minnesota by 20 points Wednesday night. But on the road in conference play, there is no woulda-coulda-shoulda. You either have enough answers or you don’t. The Spartans had an answer every single time the Gophers tried to make it interesting in MSU’s 75-67 win in Minneapolis to open Big Ten play. And that’s an important trait to see from this MSU team, which has now handled both of its true road games this season without incident.
Things go wrong on the road, no matter the competition. Minnesota is a decent team. We’ll find out how decent over the next couple months. But the Gophers are good enough to get rolling with outside shots at home. We saw a little of that late in Wednesday’s game. When the game was still in doubt, however, the Spartans had an answer each time Minnesota’s crowd was on the verge of getting into it.
The first of those came when the Gophers scored two straight buckets to get within 17-15 early on. Tyson Walker stepped into a 3 from the top of the key to quiet the Barn. Malik Hall, Gabe Brown, A.J. Hoggard all had similar moments — big shots just when things were getting a little hairy.
Walker, especially, had a notable night, scoring 15 points. It’s the most aggressive I’ve seen him willing to be with his shot as he works to figure out that balance between distributor and bucket-getter for this team.
Turnovers are still an issue. The Spartans’ eight turnovers in the second half almost cost them covering the point spread (-5.5). But through two road games — Butler and Minnesota — they’ve shown resolve and maturity and shot-making against two lesser teams. That’s how you win a lot of games in the Big Ten — by not letting lesser teams have life and momentum in their own building, which is hard to do.
2. The scouting report on Malik Hall is about to change
Minnesota was quite happy to let Malik Hall shoot 3-pointers Wednesday night. Hall was quite happy to take them, with his defender, often Eric Curry, a few feet off of him, his hands at his side. It’s the dumbest play in basketball defensively. If you don’t think a guy can hit that shot, give him 15 feet, clog the paint and shower him with disrespect. He’s more likely to miss via insult than he is with a 5-foot cushion that gives him the illusion of the respect of being defended, without the ability to close out and impact the shot.
Hall’s days facing this moronic defensive approach are ending. His outside shooting — 2-for-3 from beyond the arc in the first half — helped to open up this game and the lead for MSU. As did his 11 first-half points (he finished with 15 on 6-for-9 shooting) and his aggressive and confident approach offensively. Teams are no longer going to want him shooting from anywhere. But if they take away that 3-point shot, he’s showing he’s capable of driving and scoring and playmaking from a number places between the 3-point arc and the rim.
Hall’s offensive game still might be matchup-dependent. We’re yet to see him have a good night offensively against an athletic and long defender. Hall will have to figure that out. But if you don’t have THAT guy at the 4-spot, you’re in trouble against him. Especially if you play him how Minnesota did.
3. Freshman thoughts — the Minnesota edition
Jaden Akins’ three-quarter-court sprint to prevent a breakaway layup by Minnesota’s Payton Willis was perhaps the signature play of Akins’ season thus far — and an important play as the Gophers tried to get back in the game. Akins was headed in the other direction, near the 3-point line, when the ball got poked across half-court toward the Gophers’ basket. Akins turned and flew and — maybe — blocked the shot at the rim. But he affected it for sure. Willis missed. Gabe Brown hit a 3 on the other end and order was restored, with MSU back ahead by 16 points, 53-37.
The other notable thing about Akins’ night was how much he played — 16 minutes, his place in the rotation firmly secure. How much you’re really in a coach’s plans at the moment reveals itself on the road. For example, MSU freshman Pierre Brooks, who’d been playing two or three rotation stints a game, didn’t see the court Wednesday. Tom Izzo and Co. clearly trust Akins in any setting.
Another one of the best plays of the game for MSU came early in the second half, when Max Christie fired up an air ball 3-point try and Gabe Brown grabbed the rebound along the baseline and fired it back to him in the opposite corner for another try. No hesitation. Swish.
Christie has to keep shooting until they start falling. He’s too good and too important to MSU’s season. The Spartans can beat Minnesota without his scoring and shooting — he had 9 points on 3-for-9 shooting, going 1-for-6 from long range (with five rebounds, three blocks and two late free throws). MSU is less likely to beat Illinois, Ohio State and Michigan without Christie being in good form shooting it (I don’t know if anyone is going to beat Purdue.). There’s still time to get him rolling.
Among the telling signs that Christie is a leading man yet to emerge is his confidence in his own game. He knows what he can do. And you can see that in how he attacks and continues to shoot without hesitation.
Bonus take: This is who MSU needs Joey Hauser to be
Joey Hauser had his best game in a while Wednesday night. He played within himself. Stepped into open shots — making two of his three 3-point attempts — hauled in seven rebounds, dished two assists and turned the ball over just once in 24 minutes. The Spartans were plus-18 with him on the court, the best of anyone on the team. His 10 points also including two late free throws.
A lot of this is whether Hauser hits shots. When he does, he makes a difference. But I thought the rest of his game was pretty solid, especially on the glass — and on a night he had to play extra minutes at center due to Marcus Bingham’s first-half foul trouble. Hauser just looked more comfortable and confident on the court than we’ve seen in a bit.
Contact Graham Couch at gcouch@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @Graham_Couch.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Michigan State basketball beats Minnesota, 75-67: 3 quick takes
