After Michigan’s loss to Wisconsin, Michigan State had a chance to gain a one game lead in the conference with a win. The Spartans came out flat and were down 13-4 early. They had many chances to take back control of the game but ended up faltering in the end as Nebraska closed the game on a 9-2 run winning 60-51.
Keith Appling returned after missing three games due to a sore right wrist. Appling was pretty much a non-factor having not practiced for two weeks. He ended the game with two points and one assist in 19 minutes of play.
Adrian Payne was limited to 11 points and was able to pull down 9 rebounds. Michigan State has been leaning on Gary Harris these last few weeks and this was another game where he just couldn’t support them. Harris shot 5 of 15 from the field. This includes 1 of 7 from the three point line. The Spartans shot 34 percent as a team compared to Nebraska’s 35.8 percent.
Michigan had a slow start as well. The Badgers stared the game with a 12-2 run and never really looked back. Michigan turned it around a little in the second half cutting the lead to three. It was then that the Badgers turned to seven footer Frank Kaminsky. He scored 7 straight points for Wisconsin which basically put the game away.
Kaminsky had 25 points and 11 rebounds. The Wolverines would have liked to have Mitch McGary back to this one. They just had no answer for Kaminsky inside. Jordan Morgan and Jon Hortford only combined for 8 points and 11 rebounds.
Nik Stauskas seemed off his game once again and only got on the board for 11. He was 0-2 from three. Derrick Walton Jr. also struggled as he failed to score. He was 0-6 from the field and only had one assist. The other freshman, Zak Irvin, was 1-7 from the field. It was a rough day for many of Michigan’s key players and that was too much to overcome.
The lone bright spot was Caris LeVert. LeVert scored 25 and had six rebounds.
The thing to remember is that these games do not really mean anything. In the college basketball world it is most important to show up in March. Both Michigan and Michigan State are on their way to the NCAA tournament. They shouldn’t worry too much about these losses. Michigan State especially considering they are a little hobbled by injury. Anything can happen if either team finds their rhythm in March.He
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