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Michigan State Basketball: 2019-20 keys to victory over Seton Hall in Gavitt Games

By Austin Walther

EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 10: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans hugs Cassius Winston #5 during the second half against the Binghamton Bearcats at Breslin Center on November 10, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 10: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans hugs Cassius Winston #5 during the second half against the Binghamton Bearcats at Breslin Center on November 10, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 05: Tyrese Maxey #3 of the Kentucky Wildcats keeps the ball from Aaron Henry #11 of the Michigan State Spartans in the second half during the State Farm Champions Classic at Madison Square Garden on November 05, 2019 in New York City.Duke Blue Devils defeated the Kansas Jayhawks 68-66. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 05: Tyrese Maxey #3 of the Kentucky Wildcats keeps the ball from Aaron Henry #11 of the Michigan State Spartans in the second half during the State Farm Champions Classic at Madison Square Garden on November 05, 2019 in New York City.Duke Blue Devils defeated the Kansas Jayhawks 68-66. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

1. Limit the turnovers

It’s every game of every season that Michigan State has to limit turnovers in-order to win. Obviously, all teams want to be on the lesser end of the turnover battle, but for Michigan State, it can get out of hand at times. Like I mentioned earlier when your sample size is a really good opponent and then a mid-major, numbers will be skewed. The Spartans turned the ball over 15 times against Kentucky. That number shrunk to four against Binghamton.

Let’s use a sample size of two outstanding teams last season for Michigan State. Their last two games in the NCAA Tournament. The Spartans turned the ball over just six times against Duke in the Elite Eight. The Blue Devils had 17. Texas Tech had an amazing defensive stretch that led them to the National Championship. The Red Raiders forced 10 turnovers to their seven. That’s not a major difference like the one in the elite eight, but when you compare how many Cassius Winston had it all makes sense.

Winston like any player has seen his minutes increase through four years. You would hope that the turnover numbers wouldn’t increase. But they sure did. He went from 77 to 87 to 114 as a junior. Winston only had one against Duke. He had four vs. Texas Tech. Winston had four or more turnovers in Michigan State’s two worst losses last season. He committed four vs. Indiana at home and a whopping nine to Illinois at home.

Seton Hall is a scrappy bunch. If Myles Powell plays somehow, he’s bringing 134 career steals to the table. Quincy McKnight recorded 55 last season and the other Myles, Myles Cale had 27. Jared Rhoden is seeing a major increase in minutes and he almost had 20 last season. The Spartans are going to have to be careful with the ball against a very improved Pirates teams with or without Powell.

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