Postgame Video: Michigan State coach Tom Izzo pleased with ball movement against Huskers
East Lansing, Mich. – If there was one thing Tom Izzo was most pleased with during Michigan State’s 74-56 victory over Nebraska on Tuesday night, it was the Spartans’ sharpness in executing an offensive game plan against a quality defensive team.
Michigan State enjoyed good, extra-pass ball movement in setting up shooters in open looks throughout the game. The Spartans nailed shots in the first half, but grew cold in the second half. Izzo wasn’t thrilled with the Spartans’ 23-percent 3-point shooting in the second half, but he liked the way his passers were teeing it up for shooters.
“They (Nebraska) double the post and they are really good at it,” Izzo said. “They come from the baseline side. We just decided we weren’t going to mess with it. We were going to get it out and get it moving. Easier said than done. But this time we did.”
Michigan State hit 5 of its first 10 3-point attempts of the game and went 5-of-12 from long range in the first half. That helped Michigan State build a 39-17 lead at the break, and ride it through an uneven second half.
“Because we moved the ball so well, the cross-court passes were open,” Izzo said. “And yet someone has to make those shots.”
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Tyson Walker was 9-of-15 from the field for 21 points.
Jaden Akins, who had been ridiculously hot from 3-point range range this season, cooled off to 1-of-5 from behind the arc. But Akins, Walker and Joey Hauser also did a good job of faking the 3-pointer and hitting medium-range shots off the dribble against a Husker defense that became overzealous in closing out.
Michigan State cooled off from long range in the second half, going 3-of-13 (23.1 percent).
Walker finished 3-of-6 from 3-point range.
“Tyson, it was fun to see him,” Izzo said. “He has been struggling. He has not made shots. He has come in and worked.
“We talked about getting a little more arc on his shot. He was fired up today because he shot well in the shoot-around (before the game). And after the game he was almost like, ‘Thanks for the help.’ That’s a big positive for this team right now.
“We will work on those little glitches we had in those stretches (in the second half) but all in all the ball movement put us in position to make shots.”
