Three Things To Watch: Michigan State vs. Penn State

East Lansing, Mich. – Michigan State (5-4, 0-1) has lost two games in a row to teams that were better-rested and had more practice time to prepare for the Spartans than Michigan State had time to prepare for them. Now, Michigan State prepares for a road match-up at Penn State against another well-rested team, with a guard-heavy lineup that could be kryptonite for the leg-weary Spartans.

“In Penn State, the schedule doesn’t get any easier,” Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said at his weekly press conference on Monday. “It will be the third team in a row that has had five or six days to prepare for us, where we haven’t.”

Like Northwestern, which defeated Michigan State on its home floor on Sunday, Penn State has roster with veteran guards and wings.

“This is a hard-nosed, experienced team,” Izzo said. “They have five fifth-year guys on this team that play. Unbelievable. Three of their top scorers are fifth-year guys, led by (Jalen) Pickett who is averaging 16 and seven. They’ll sometimes go five small, so a guy like Malik (Hall), you really need him in a game like this.”

With Hall still sidelined by a foot injury, the Spartans have limited cards to play against Penn State, as they continue to limp toward the softer portion of their schedule. The Spartans desperately need to rest, regroup, and practice, but there won’t be any let-up until after this tough test at Penn State.

Continue reading for Three Things to Watch as Michigan State resumes Big Ten play on the road at Penn State on Wednesday.

THREE THINGS TO WATCH

1. Michigan State needs to play Brooks fewer minutes

Pierre Brooks has gotten a lot of attention during the past week, and it hasn’t been good attention. Michigan State simply isn’t as good defensively when Brooks is playing too many minutes. As such, the Spartans need to do everything they can to cut back those minutes. At the same time, Michigan State still needs Brooks to contribute as a spot-up shooter at the other end of the court.

How many minutes is too many? Anything more than 20 minutes per game is too many. Thirty plus minutes per game is a big problem.

With Jaden Akins back in the playing group, it should be easier to limit the number of minutes that Brooks is playing. That is only true, however, if Michigan State’s other guards avoid foul trouble.

“We are going to have to find a way to do little bit better job with our subbing,” Izzo said. “It helps that Jaden is back. What level is he back, and what is his fatigue factor? I think you saw with your own eyes last night. It’s not going to be great for a while. We are going to have to do a better job with the three-minute sessions, but when you do that, you don’t get into the flow of the game.”

If Tyson Walker, AJ Hoggard, or Akins get in foul trouble, Michigan State will likely be stuck playing Brooks too many minutes. It is paramount that Walker and Hoggard avoid player control fouls.

2. Michigan State needs to defend the 3-point line

Michigan State was defending the three at a high level before injuries to Akins and Hall. And those numbers were still solid prior to a blowout loss at Notre Dame last Wednesday. In that loss to Notre Dame, Michigan State gave up 11 triples.

Northwestern did not shoot the ball as well from three as Notre Dame did, but the Spartans gave the Wildcats too many open looks. Northwestern missed several good shots in the second half. Penn State is unlikely to miss shots if given similar looks.

As a team, Penn State is shooting a strong 40.6 percent from three. The Nittany Lions have made 97 threes in eight games. They average 12 made threes per game. Michigan State, by contrast, has made 65 threes in nine games.

Four of Penn State’s five starters have double-digit threes on the year.

Senior Andrew Funk (6-5, 200), a Bucknell transfer, leads the way with 22 threes. Senior Seth Lundy (6-6, 220) has made 19 threes on the year, while Drexel transfer Camren Wynter (6-2, 200), another senior, and Pickett have combined to make 22 threes on the year.

Senior Myles Dread has provided instant offense off the bench with 20 threes in eight games.

“This is a very good 3-point shooting team,” Izzo said. “They lead the Big Ten in 3-point shots made. They are getting over 12 a game that they are making, where other teams are getting six or seven. That is their bread and butter.”

3. Joey Hauser needs to avoid foul trouble

Senior Joey Hauser has given Michigan State everything he has thus far. And like Walker, Hauser has played a boatload of minutes. In the five games that Michigan State has been without Hall, Hauser is averaging more than 35 minutes per game.

The Spartans have had no choice in that regard. Given that Penn State plays with a guard-heavy lineup, chances are pretty good that Hauser is going to spend quite a bit of time defending, a smaller, quicker player than himself. This game would present a difficult task for Hauser if he were rested and had the benefit of several days prep. To chase smaller, more athletic guards around on tired legs is an impossible task. Hauser could find himself in foul trouble rather quickly.

If Hall was available, Hauser would probably play some minutes at the five in Michigan State’s small lineup against Penn State’s small lineup. If Hauser plays at the five in this game, it will probably be because Mady Sissoko is in foul trouble and freshmen Jaxon Kohler and Carson Cooper are lost defensively.

First things first, Hauser needs to be on the floor.

Hauser did not fare well against Penn State a year ago. In two games combined, he totaled 13 points on 5-of-12 shooting. He did not make a three against the Nittany Lions last season.

In lieu of Hauser providing a floor-stretching presence against Penn State last season, Michigan State got solid production inside. Marcus Bingham led the Spartans to an 80-64 win over Penn State on the road (Dec. 11) with a double-double that included 12 points and 13 rebounds. In the rematch, which was won by Penn State, Julius Marble (Texas A&M) was Michigan State’s most efficient scorer, finishing with 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting.

Hauser averaged 20 minutes across two games last season against Penn State. If Hauser is only on the floor for half of Wednesday’s game due to foul trouble, it is going to be long night for Michigan State.