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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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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 05: Xavier Tillman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts during the first half against the Kentucky Wildcats at Madison Square Garden on November 05, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 05: Xavier Tillman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts during the first half against the Kentucky Wildcats at Madison Square Garden on November 05, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) /

2. Size Advantage

Forget about shooting, Michigan State has some great size. They say guards win championships, but right now the focus is on winning a game against Virginia Tech. Xavier Tillman is about the best big body there is in college basketball. Once the numbers start to level, he’ll be averaging a double-double. Five out of their top-six leading scorers are six-foot-six or bigger. Out of their entire rotation, Virginia Tech has just two.

But the Hokies guards can rebound with the best of them. Four of the guards have 20 or more rebounds through five games. Tyrece Radford, a six-foot-two guard is averaging seven boards per contest. Michigan State will have forwards by trade guarding these guards of Virginia Tech. There’s no doubt though that the Spartans will have their A-game on the defensive side, force them to go inside and clean up on the glass.

Michigan State is living on second chance shots. Thomas Kithier is an offensive rebounding machine. He has 10 while Radford has 13 in one more game. As a unit, Michigan State has 52 offensive boards while Virginia Tech has 41. Like any other Mike Young coached teams, the Hokies are no different and take a ton of three-pointers. Grabbing offensive boards off a triple is more difficult. But the Hokies are shooting over 40 percent from downtown.

The Spartans are going to have to force Virginia Tech to play inside. Those guards are not going to be able to handle the big men and very large wings that the Spartans have. Once Tech gets going from the outside, there could be an upset in Maui. But Izzo will have the bigger Spartans ready to try and get the Hokies in the paint. And on the offensive side, any missed shot by the Spartans is going to be a battle and a half for the Hokies. So many big bodies from Michigan State are going to be flying toward the ball.

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