Michigan State vs Duke: 5 storylines for 2020 Champions Classic matchup

EAST LANSING, MI - JANUARY 17: Rocket Watts #2 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates his three point shot in the second half of the game against Wisconsin Badgers at the Breslin Center on January 17, 2020 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

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Gabe Brown #44 Michigan State Spartans(Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

Michigan State’s ability to extend the defense

If one was to create a Venn diagram of the Spartan’s need to hit three-pointers and the fear that they will not be able to, it would have Cassius Winston and Xavier Tillman in the middle. Including the 6’8 Tillman in the middle of the Venn diagram is because he is no longer in the middle of the paint.

Whether Tillman was drawing a double down from the perimeter defender or drawing his defender out of the key to allow Winston to score off his screen, defenses are much more likely to pack the key this season to prevent Spartan penetration.

As a point- guard, Winston attempted and made the most three-pointers per game while having a team-best (over 40 attempts) 43 percent. Winston was a double threat using the Tillman screen and taking advantage of whether his defender went above or beneath the screen.

Rockets Watts who made 28 percent from the arc, Foster Loyer who attempted just 40 last season, Aaron Henry, and Marquette transfer Joey Hauser will be responsible for knocking down threes and extending opposing defenses.

Coach K had his batch of athletic freshmen defend the three-point line rather aggressively last season, as they surrendered the fourth-lowest attempts by opponents last season. Even if the Duke perimeter defense is not the equivalent of last year, if Henry who shot 34 percent and Hauser who hit 42 percent, cannot extend the Blue Devils’ with any amount of success, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Rutgers will be more than happy not venture too far from the paint.

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