3 keys for Oakland Grizzlies to upset the Michigan State Spartans

Guard the 3-point line!

The Michigan State Spartans boast three players who are shooting at or above 39 percent from 3-point range. Their best shooter, Joey Hauser is shooting 42.9 percent from behind the arc and making an average of nearly two 3-pointers per game. Senior point guard Tyson Walker is a constant scoring threat who has been known to knock down a deep 3-pointer if the defender sags too far off of him.

Last February, he hit a clutch three in the closing seconds of the game to defeat the Purdue Boilermakers. To avoid these pitfalls, the Oakland Grizzlies must be intentional about not letting the Spartans enjoy great open looks at the basket.

The Grizzlies feature a few sharpshooters of their own as well. Hervey and Townsend, each shoot over 40 percent from behind the arc. Junior guard Blake Lampman leads the team in 3-pointers made on the season, having knocked down 21 shots from 3-point land. If these three players heat up from long distance, they may be able to offset the Spartans’ firepower. However, a better strategy would be sticking close to shooters and communicating heavily during ball rotations.

The Spartans’ combination of superior size on the frontline, with experienced backcourt players who have the proven ability to perform under pressure will be tough to overcome. Competing on the boards will be a tough enough task for the Grizzlies. If they get outrebounded and also allow Michigan State’s shooter to get comfortable, the game could be out of reach before the first half is over.