Couch: 3 quick takes on Michigan State's win over Stony Brook

Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch gives his initial thoughts on Michigan State’s 93-71 win over Stony Brook on Sunday at Breslin Center.

1. MSU’s Portland trip will be interesting if Miles Bridges hobbled

Michigan State’s sophomore star clutched the back of his left ankle as he landed after being fouled on the drive during the second half Sunday. It looked bad at first, like he was grabbing his Achilles. Bridges got up, realized the pain was somewhat severe and limped to the bench. Then he tried to come back to shoot the free throws, before going to the locker room.

MSU coach Tom Izzo said afterwards that it's a sprain — not the dreaded high-ankle sprain, "thank God," he said — and that he's "day to day."

"I’d say by Tuesday I’ll know a little bit more," Izzo said. "Miles is tough enough to play through it, but at the same time, we won’t take any chances."

Perhaps Bridges will be good to go late Thursday night against DePaul in at the PK80 event in Portland. If he’s not, or if he’s limited, this week could be interesting for this MSU team.

The PK80 event, named for Phil Knight’s 80th birthday, is overrated as far as the Spartans’ path in the tournament goes. With a healthy roster, MSU wasn’t likely to be challenged against DePaul or even UConn or Oregon, one of which MSU would play Friday. A possible showdown with North Carolina Sunday is the only marquee game the Spartans could play out there.

But, minus Bridges, it’ll be a different kind of week. Nothing is certain — even a matchup with Big East bottom-feeder DePaul. As long as Bridges’ injury isn't serious, there could be some long-term benefits in terms of player and roster development. But the Spartans will be mighty thin on the wing behind shooting guards Joshua Langford and Matt McQuaid. They’re already without Kyle Ahrens and Kenny Goins. 

2. An angry Miles Bridges is still a work in progress offensively

There were plenty of moments Sunday when Miles Bridges looked “possessed,” as he promised Tom Izzo he would for the rest of time after Tuesday’s loss to Duke. There was an alley-oop slam dunk, followed by a scowl. Later, a ferocious one-handed rebound and put-back dunk. Bridges looked focused on both ends, determined, before his injury.

Determination doesn’t make him a finished product offensively. That was never more apparent than on one play that exemplified what Bridges doesn’t have in his game yet. After Bridges caught the ball on the left side of the court in transition, he tried to drive against a defender to the basket. He couldn’t get by him and so he went through him and was called for charging. He doesn’t quite have the first step to pull that off without improving his ball handling. 

When he uses angles and gets a step, he’s impossible to keep from the basket. On one particular play in the second half, he got the angle on the baseline — his favorite area to drive — and took off until he was at the rim and fouled. The defender had no choice. Bridges can live at the foul line this season, if he can consistently figure out how to size up defenders and beat them to the spot. Otherwise, he doesn’t have a go-to move.

3. Cassius Winston’s pull-up 3s should become a staple of MSU’s offense

On back-to-back possessions late in the first half, MSU’s sophomore point guard pulled up off the dribble and buried 3-pointers. Some shooters are catch-and-shoot guys. Some are comfortable off the dribble. Winston is comfortable either way. 

These are high-percentage shots for him. Point guards are often hesitant to let it fly in these situations because it’s a quick shot and doesn’t get others involved. But Winston’s pull-up 3s ought to be a regular thing, a staple of MSU’s offense, another way to put pressure on defenses. He ought to let two or three fly each game, minimum. 

Izzo agrees.

"I'd like to see him pull up a little more," Izzo said. "Best shooter we've got right now."

Bonus take: Keep an eye on Xavier Tillman

MSU’s freshman big man played 13 minutes, scored nine points and grabbed five rebounds. His opportunity came at the beginning of the second half because Jaren Jackson Jr. was in foul trouble. But then Tillman played some of Gavin Schilling’s minutes. In a tight game against a veteran team, there’s no question Tom Izzo would lean on Schilling right now. But Tillman showed Sunday he might be in play for a place in the rotation beyond mop-up duty.

Bonus take II: Joshua Langford needed this game

Langford finished with 19 points on 8 of 13 shooting and five assists. He was active, terrific scoring in transition and in creating second-chance opportunities when this was a game. This was his best game yet, by a ways.

"I thought it was the first game he looked really comfortable on both ends of the court," Izzo said afterward.

Especially if Bridges isn’t available or entirely himself this week, Langford will be essential. He is in the long run anyway.

Contact Graham Couch at gcouch@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @Graham_Couch.