michigan state vs illinois basketball

Michigan State Basketball defeats Illinois: 3 Key Takeaways

Michigan State Basketball won a close game against Illinois 70-69. Here are three key takeaways from this Spartan victory.

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Michigan State Basketball won a barn burner last night against Illinois, 70-69. The Spartans enjoyed a victory thanks to key contributions from Xavier Tillman and Rocket Watts. Now, MSU is 17-8 overall and 9-5 in Big Ten Conference games.

Here are three key takeaways from this game:

1. Slow Road Starts, Be Gone!

As you know, Michigan State struggles early on in road games. This did not stand true against Illinois. Instead, the Spartans jumped out to a huge lead in the first ten minutes of this game. They were clicking on all cylinders and this high level of play was truly impressive. Hopefully, this strong performance kick starts MSU’s offense moving forward.

2. Rocket Watts Cleared For Takeoff

Rocket Watts went absolutely bananas last night against Illinois. He scored a career-high 21 points on 9/14 shooting from the floor and 2/4 from three-point land. Most importantly, Watts his shots in critical moments during this game. He hit one floater right over a defender in the second half. Now, Watts looks incredibly confident in his on-court abilities. Let’s see what he does throughout the rest of this season!

3. Still Room For Growth

Michigan State did shake their early-game struggles but there is still plenty of room for growth. After all, Illinois climbed right back into this game during the second half. MSU must be more consistent on the defensive end of the floor, especially on the perimeter. Also, Michigan State must shoot get to the free-throw line more often. Illinois took 11 more free-throws than the Spartans.

The Spartans are back in action this Saturday on Feb. 15 against Maryland. The game starts at 6 P.M. and broadcasts live on ESPN. Follow along on SpartansWire for plenty of coverage to come.

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Michigan State Basketball vs. Illinois: 5 Most Important Players

Michigan State Basketball plays against Illinois this Tuesday in another Big Ten road game. Here are the 5 most important players.

Michigan State Basketball travels to the State Farm Center for a game against Illinois. The Fighting Illini are 3-2 in their last five games whereas MSU is 2-3 in their last five games. Another tough away game environment for the Spartans in this matchup.

Here are the five most important players in this game:

1. Aaron Henry

Aaron Henry sits atop my list of the five most important MSU players yet again. Henry did score in double digits against Michigan but he still struggles on the floor. The Sophomore Forward can still improve over the next month but the window of opportunity grows smaller and smaller with each game. Aaron Henry is the most important Spartan in this game against Illinois.

2. Gabe Brown

Gabe Brown failed to score against Michigan this past Saturday, shooting 0/5 from the floor. Keep in mind, MSU only lost by nine points against their interstate rival. So even just ten points from Gabe Brown swings this game in Michigan State’s favor. Watch for Brown to have an explosive bounce-back game against Illinois.

3. Xavier Tillman

Xavier Tillman put up a sneaky 17 points and 12 rebounds against Michigan. I think Tillman should be more aggressive as a scorer. Sometimes, he gets the ball down low and looks to pass to a perimeter teammate. Instead, Tillman should put his body against the defender and score or draw contact. He is a reliable source of high-quality shots more often than not.

4. Rocket Watts

Rocket Watts had a quiet game against the Wolverines with seven points off the bench. Watts gives Michigan State a great scoring spark when Cassius Winston rests on the bench. More importantly, he allows Winston to play off-ball when paired together in the backcourt. Rocket Watts scoring ability is critical for Michigan State’s success during the final stretch of the season.

5. Kyle Ahrens

Kyle Ahrens is the furthest thing from a flashy player. Instead, he is a grit and grind type of guy. Ahrens’ energy and hustle are inspirational. Plus, he can hit three-point shots when open. Kyle can easily swing an MSU game with three or four shots from beyond the arc. As a result, I think he is pretty important in this intense road game situation.

Michigan State and Illinois play at 9 P.M. this Tuesday on ESPN. Cheer on the Spartans and stay with us on SpartansWire for more coverage to come.

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3 Things to Watch: Michigan State Basketball takes on Illinois

Michigan State Basketball plays against Illinois at the State Farm Center in a Big Ten matchup. Here are three things to watch in this game.

Big Ten Conference basketball continues on as Michigan State takes on Illinois at the State Farm Center. The Spartans are currently 16-8 overall this year and 8-5 in Big Ten Conference play after a loss to Michigan. Illinois, on the other hand, is 16-7 overall and 8-4 in Big Ten Conference play.

Here are three things to watch in this game:

1. Ayo Dosunmu & Kofi Cockburn

Illinois boasts a lethal Guard/Center duo in Ayo Dosunmu and Kofi Cockburn. Dosunmu scores 15.8 points per game which ranks him sixth in Big Ten points per game. Cockburn averages 13.8 points per game which ranks him 14th in Big Ten points per game. Both players score in bunches and contribute greatly to Illinois’ offense.

All in all, Illinois is currently fifth in Big Ten points per game as a team, averaging 73.8 points per game. Kofi Cockburn also grabs nine rebounds per game which ranks him sixth in the Big Ten in rebounds per game. Watch for an offensive battle between MSU and the fighting Illini.

2. Rebounding Battle

MSU and Illinois are two of the top three best rebounding teams in the Big Ten. The Spartans are first in rebounds per game and total rebounds with 41.4 and 995 respectively. Illinois is currently third in rebounds per game and total rebounds with 40.3 and 928 respectively. This game will be an absolute battle near the rim for each and every board. Xavier Tillman, Marcus Bingham Jr., & Malik Hall have serious work to do on the glass against the Fighting Illini.

3. Illinois Turnovers

Michigan State and Illinois are also two of the top five Big Ten teams in turnovers per game. Illinois is fourth in the Big Ten with 12.78 in TOPG (turnovers per game). The Spartans rank fifth in TOPG with 12.54. MSU can potentially capitalize on this high turnover rate with easy transition buckets.

Michigan State and Illinois square off this Tuesday at 9 P.M. This game broadcasts live on ESPN. Stay locked on SpartansWire for more coverage to come.

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