The Michigan State Spartans are in a funk right now, and they need to break out of hit in a hurry.
They’ve now dropped three straight games, with the latest setback coming in the form of a perplexing 81-56 loss to Minnesota tonight. The offense never got off the ground, while they trailed by as many as 20 in the first half.
They’re now off to their worst Big Ten start ever.
Afterwards, head coach Tom Izzo lamented his team’s lack of energy, and pointed to the defense as the main culprit for tonight’s loss.
Izzo says “there was no problem the last two games with the energy level” compared to the Northwestern loss.
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) December 29, 2020
The Spartans shot a ghastly 25.7% from the field tonight. They started 4-for-31, and missed twelve straight attempts at one point.
For Izzo, that’s as bad as it gets.
Izzo calls tonight's performance "rock bottom" offensively.
— Graham Couch (@Graham_Couch) December 29, 2020
Rocket Watts went 1-for-9, Joey Hauser went 1-for-8, Henry went 3-for-10 and Joshua Langford went 2-for-10.
Meanwhile, the experiment of benching Aaron Henry and starting Foster Loyer didn’t pay off. However, Izzo alluded to needing to switch things up at times.
Izzo says Watts told him he “hasn’t been as comfortable at the 1.” Said l Henry coming off the bench “won’t last.” Calls it “different experiments you gotta do. Sad you have to do it during the year.”
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) December 29, 2020
The Spartans will look to get back into the win column January 2 against Nebraska.
