Michigan State Basketball: 3 reasons why Spartans are currently struggling

EAST LANSING, MI - JANUARY 2: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans argues a call during the second half of a game against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Breslin Center on January 2, 2020, in East Lansing, Michigan. Michigan State defeated Illinois 76-56. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /

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Aaron Henry Michigan State Basketball (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

1. Can’t play defense

A Tom Izzo team should be this bad defensively.

As previously mentioned, the Spartans are last in the Big Ten in defensive efficiency, something that has never happened under Izzo.

But why is this squad not good on the defensive end? There are plenty of good players on the roster who can defend, including Aaron Henry, voted by Big Ten players as the toughest to score on, Joshua Langford is praised over and over by Izzo for how good he is on that end, Gabe Brown is lengthy and rangy, and Marcus Bingham defends the rim well. It’s not adding up as to why MSU is giving up so many points on the other end.

In the first three games of Big Ten play, the Spartans have given up nearly 82 points per game against opponents. Giving up that many points in the toughest conference in college basketball is not how you win your fourth straight conference title. Tom Izzo will have to make a lineup change, and he’ll have to do it soon.

Some easy fixes are benching guys who can’t defend as well for those who can. For example, Foster Loyer cannot stay in front of a single D1 guard, so the freshman AJ Hoggard might fare better. Thomas Kithier is in a similar situation, and Malik Hall is a better defender than he is.

It’s up to Izzo to make the right moves, which he’s done countless times.

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