Between Hack-a-Kofi and Co., forcing Ayo to his left, and intimidating Illinois into missing 20 layups, Tom Izzo and the Michigan State Spartans shut down Illinois’s high-powered offense on Tuesday. Sure, it’s okay to have a clunker now and then. But the issue on Tuesday, aside from MSU potentially seriously injuring Illinois’s two best players, was a lack of focus. Missing as many layups and free throws as they did is unacceptable for any team, let alone one that wants to win the Big Ten title.
Trent Frazier was the only bright spot on Tuesday. He had what is becoming a routinely efficient performance, with 22 points on 13 shots, and an eFG% of 69.