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Michigan State Basketball: Takeaways from annihilation of Charleston Southern

By Rudi Richards

EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 18: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans handles the ball during the first half against the Charleston Southern Buccaneers at Breslin Center on November 18, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 18: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans handles the ball during the first half against the Charleston Southern Buccaneers at Breslin Center on November 18, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
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NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – NOVEMBER 14: Aaron Henry #11 and Malik Hall #25 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrate the win over the Seton Hall Pirates at Prudential Center on November 14, 2019 in Newark, New Jersey.The Michigan State Spartans defeated the Seton Hall Pirates 76-73. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – NOVEMBER 14: Aaron Henry #11 and Malik Hall #25 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrate the win over the Seton Hall Pirates at Prudential Center on November 14, 2019 in Newark, New Jersey.The Michigan State Spartans defeated the Seton Hall Pirates 76-73. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

2. The defense was great at keeping the pressure on

Again, Michigan State wasn’t playing a side with a dangerous offense. It wasn’t exactly a huge test for the Spartans on either end, but what was impressive was their ability to limit the Buccaneers’ offensive opportunities with such effectiveness.

There were so many times where the Spartans forced a turnover due to shot clock violations. This is a sign of a great team, not allowing for the opposition to even get a shot off in time. For the game, Charleston Southern actually had more shots than the juggernaut MSU offense, which seems pretty nuts considering how dominant a game this was for the Spartans. But, then you look at how successful the Buccaneers were when they were able to shoot their shot.

They shot 19-68 from the field, that’s 27.9%, and then you look at how they were able to do from outside. The Bucs were successful on 8.3% of occasions from downtown. That’s not how you’re going to keep up with a Michigan State side, but sinking just two three-point shots in a forty-minute game. In an era like this, if you can’t shoot the three-point shot then you’re not going to win any game, let alone be competitive in a game against a three seed.

Charles Southern isn’t great at scoring by all means, but you still have to give the credit due to this Spartan defense. For a team that has such firepower going the opposite direction, there’s plenty to admire about the way that this team plays off of the ball, at the other end of the court. The Spartans played tough defensive basketball, they were like a wall. Giving up just twelve team fouls on the night, they were pretty disciplined in what they were doing too. Winston led his team on both ends extremely well, and they remained flawless for most of the game.

Marcus Bingham Jr. came off the bench to record four blocks, as he helped this frontcourt limit the Buccaneers inside – giving them no other option to keep shooting the three, at times, which was doomed on the night. The focus will obviously be on how well Michigan State scored the basketball, but there’s plenty to be aware of for opposing sides who go into playing the Spartans on the defensive side too. This defense takes a lot to breakdown.

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