Michigan State basketball: 3 takeaways from win over Rutgers at MSG

The Madison Square Garden curse for Michigan State basketball has been broken — for now.

The Spartans beat Rutgers at the Garden which was a rematch of the game in New York two years ago in which the Scarlet Knights pulled out a 61-55 win over Tyson Walker, AJ Hoggard, and the Spartans.

This game was much different as the Spartans controlled the game — outside of the first few minutes. They were down 10-3 early on before storming back to take a lead at the half, 35-32, and then extending that lead in the second half to win 81-74. It should’ve been a double-digit win, but a garbage-time 3-pointer by Rutgers made this a seven-point win.

What’d we learn?

1. The bench is deeper than it’s been in years

We already knew this, but Michigan State’s bench is the best and deepest it’s been in years.

Michigan State’s bench scored 50 points to 31 from the starting five. Not many teams have that kind of production from their bench and that’s why this team has been so hard to beat in the Big Ten, sitting at 8-0 in conference play.

Jase Richardson scored a career-high 20 points, Coen Carr had 14 points, and Xavier Booker scored nine. Great game from the bench.

2. Coen Carr has developed a ton as a player

I don’t know what I was expecting from Coen Carr this season but it definitely wasn’t a guy who was really good on both ends of the floor and really threatened defenders offensively. He scored 14 points against Rutgers as the team’s second-leading scorer and he does a little of everything from driving the lane, finishing at the rim, and running the floor.

Carr isn’t just a dunker anymore and that’s why this offense has taken a huge step with him on the floor. He’s no longer a guy you can forget about defending at the perimeter.

3. The offense has been efficient

How many offenses can score 81 points and hit just five threes? Michigan State basketball is a rare breed.

The Spartans shot just 5-for-19 from deep which is about where they’ve been most of the season and they still scored 81 and should’ve won by double figures. The Spartans did turn the ball over 15 times which isn’t great, but they had 19 assists and shot nearly 50 percent from the floor. They just wear opponents down and the offense has been much better in the half court this season than it has been in previous years.