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Michigan State Basketball: 2019-20 keys to beat Virginia Tech in Maui Invitational

By Austin Walther

EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 18: Gabe Brown #44 of the Michigan State Spartans dunks the ball during the second 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: Gabe Brown #44 of the Michigan State Spartans dunks the ball during the second 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: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates 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: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates 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) /

Michigan State Basketball head out to the Maui Jim Maui Invitational with a 3-1 record where they will face Virginia Tech on opening night. What will the Spartans need to do to avoid the upset-minded Hokies?

Michigan State Basketball is one of the two favorites to win the Maui this season. There are some good teams, but the Spartans and Kansas Jayhawks make this field very top-heavy. Michigan State kicks things off Monday evening local time with Virginia Tech. The Hokies did not have much expectations this season. Buzz Williams left for Texas A&M and Mike Young got an upgrade from Wofford. He did great with the Terriers, but now he’s coaching in a big time conference. Young already has an ACC win for Virginia Tech and they are 5-0.

The Spartans came in with all of the expectations to be the number one team in the country. They only lost by seven to Kentucky at the Champions Classic. But if we learn anything from previous seasons, don’t hold much faith in what happens there. Between beating up on two mid-majors, Michigan State had an instant classic vs. Seton Hall. Easily one of the best games with almost a month into the season. Cassius Winston did his thing and we got introduced to the two Spartan Freshmen.

The biggest problem for Michigan State is going to be finding scoring outside of Winston. Joey Hauser officially isn’t playing this season and Joshua Langford remains sidelined until at least January. They were hoping Gabe Brown, Aaron Henry or Kyle Ahrens would find a shot. But they really haven’t. Then Malik Hall and Rocket Watts stepped up big time against Seton Hall, provided some much-needed scoring to edge the Spartans over the Pirates.

The Spartans have nothing to worry about with size. They have big forwards and guards all over the court. This will be a matchup nightmare for Virginia Tech. But Young has the Hokies shooting the lights out. They took down Clemson on the road to open the season while knocking down nine three-pointers. The next four games were low mid-majors, but three Hokies have 10 or more triples. That’s advantage Virginia Tech. both teams get sloppy with the ball and both create the same amount of turnovers. So what is Michigan State going to have to do to win this opening round game out in Maui?

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