Michigan State vs Virginia: 5 significant storylines for 2020-21 matchup

Pace of Play

Unless the Cavaliers are playing Kansas State, the Pace of Play will always be a storyline. More time was spent looking for a team that played anywhere close as slow as Virginia, than the time that was spent writing the last three sentences.

The fastest game Virginia has played so far this season was a 76-51 victory against Saint Francis that was at 62.9 possessions per 40 minutes. To attempt to put that into some kind of context, the Lamar versus Air Force game that had a final score of 59-44 had a pace of 62.4 possessions. To take it s step further, the slowest game Michigan State has been involved in was their opening game when they toppled Eastern Michigan 83-67 which saw 73.6 possessions.

It is going to be a challenge for both teams to play the game on their own terms, and it should not take long to distinguish which team has the upper hand. Thie plot of this storyline is interwoven with that of the Spartans’ health. If Langford is available then Rocket Watts will be playing point and he pushes the action. If Langford is unable, then Foster Loyer will become the main ball-handler as Rocket Watts slides to off-guard which is his more natural position to score from.

With Loyer at point-guard, the Spartans will be more methodical with their offensive sets and their shot selection. Virginia has been holding opponents to under19 first-half points while scoring 35. Michigan State’s defense will be the best they have faced to this point, and if the Spartans score anywhere between 25 to 30 points in the first half, Virginia is not the team in control.