Michigan State basketball: 3 keys to victory vs. Ohio State

If Michigan State basketball wants to bounce back against Ohio State, it needs to make sure these three things happen.

As the regular season is inching towards its end, Michigan State basketball is in a very dangerous position. The Spartans are currently in the NCAA Tournament, but another bad loss could change that fast. A loss to Ohio State at home could do just that, so this feels like a must-win game for MSU.

Here are my three keys for MSU that’ll give them a great chance at getting back in the win column.

1. Give Xavier Booker more minutes

I think this is long overdue. Xavier Booker has improved immensely this last month, so much so that he could be MSU’s best big right now. Even if you don’t think he’s the best big on the roster, there’s no denying he has the highest ceiling. Booker’s potential is through the roof, and I think it’s time Tom Izzo finally lets him loose.

Is Booker 100 percent ready to lead MSU down low? Not even close. There’s still a lot of work to do especially on the defensive end to get there. But he has improved a lot recently and he deserves to be rewarded for that. Michigan State’s other bigs also haven’t been playing well at all recently, so why not give the one guy who actually has been playing well more minutes?

Thankfully, Tom Izzo and Booker seem to be on the same page about his development. But I think it’s time Izzo gives him a chance to play a lot in one game and see how he does.

2. Contain Ohio State’s three-headed monster

Ohio State really only has three guys that could do serious damage on offense to Michigan State basketball in this game. Those three guys are Bruce Thornton, Jamison Battle, and Roddy Gayle Jr. All three of these Buckeyes are averaging over 13 points per game this season.

Outside of these three, only one other Buckeye averages at least six points a game. So if Ohio State is going to win this game, these three likely will have to have big games. That’s why MSU needs to slow them down, because if these three struggle, Ohio State doesn’t have another player to turn to that can win them this game.

Slowing down three guys at once will be challenging, but a realistic goal for Michigan State would be to keep them all under their season average. If they can do that, MSU’s chances of winning increase exponentially.

3. Force OSU to shoot a lot of 3s

One of Ohio State’s weaknesses just so happens to be one of MSU’s strengths. The Buckeyes are not a good 3-point shooting team. They are No. 182 in the country at 33.8% this season. Compare that to Michigan State’s 3-point shooting defense and you’ll see how much this favors the Spartans.

The Spartans are holding teams this year to 32.4% shooting from beyond the arc. Combine those stats and Michigan State basketball fans will want Ohio State to shoot a lot of threes. You never know what will happen in any one game because anyone can randomly get hot, but I find that unlikely in this game. So if Michigan State can force a lot of 3-point attempts from the Buckeyes, I think that will increase their chances to win as well.