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

3. Malik Hall and Rocket Watts

Now we’ll talk about how Michigan State is going to have to find shooters to win the opening game at Maui. Not trying to sound like a broken record, but the need for shooters is a big one against Virginia Tech. They were able to defeat one of the best shooters in the country Myles Powell and his Seton Hall Pirates. The Spartans let Powell do his thing and besides one other guy named Myles, no one else really shot the ball that well. Virginia Tech has depth at shooting three-pointers.

Landers Nolley II has 17 three-pointers on 45 percent shooting. Nahiem Alleyne has 12 on 44 percent and Jalen Cone comes off the bench and has hit 12 at a whopping 63 percent. Two other guys are shooting 37 percent or better from outside. We all know Winston is going to get his two or three three-pointers. But other than that, it’s been inconsistent.

Malik Hall knocked down all three of his outside shots for the season against Seton Hall. A repeat of that performance may be needed. He might not have to go to the extent of dropping 17, but a few triples are going to have to be in store for him. Rocket Watts knocked down two against the Pirates. He’s only shooting three-for-17 on the season. The best way for a shooter to get out of his slump is to keep on shooting.

Brown, Henry and Ahrens all have three apiece as well. All three veterans are shooting 30 percent or better, but they aren’t taking enough shots. There has to be some confidence among the Spartan shooters against Virginia Tech. It’s going to take a lot for Virginia Tech to pull this upset off, but it’s possible if they start to get hot from deep.

Watts just needs to find his stroke and he’s capable of going off. Hall needs to get open more. He has to find his shot to create a match up problem as a much taller wing shooting against a small Hokies team.