Couch: 3 quick takes on Michigan State's 86-57 win over Nebraska

Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch gives his initial thoughts on the Spartans' Big Ten opener Sunday at Breslin Center.

1. Nick Ward, Miles Bridges show diversity in their games

There are going to be many days like Sunday for Michigan State’s basketball team this season — games when the Spartans simply overmatch their opponents. MSU would be wise to get something out of those games other than a victory. 

Sunday, they did. Especially Nick Ward and Miles Bridges, I thought. 

MSU used Bridges in different ways than it has thus far. He facilitated from the top of the arc, took a turnaround jumper from the high post and hit a running floater off the drive. It wasn’t entirely new, but it also wasn’t just his usually array of alley-oops and baseline drives and 3-point attempts. Bridges scored a modest 12 points, but it was his most complete offensive performance of the season. 

“We’re trying to get him to take it to the whole and he did more,” MSU coach Tom Izzo said. “He definitely made a couple great drives, just barely missed two of those finger rolls. I thought he drove it more, drove it and dished it more. Actually, even though he was 4-for-12, I thought he was more aggressive than he’s been.”

Ward scored dipping baseline with his left shoulder. He often goes right and scores with his left hand. Mostly, he played like a beast on an afternoon that wasn’t North Carolina or Notre Dame or Duke. He played like he wanted to own this game, against Nebraska, scoring 22 points and grabbing seven rebounds in 16 minutes, while living at the foul line, knocking down 10 of 13 free throws.

“I’m trying to add little bits and pieces to my game, (from) watching other people,” Ward said, adding that the next thing he’d like to add is a consistent 15-foot jump shot. “I watched some KG (Kevin Garnett) today, just taking bits and pieces of his game.”

If those two spend games against teams like Nebraska by taking their games to new levels and trying new things, these games will have greater value than it appears.

More:Michigan State opens Big Ten play by bashing Nebraska, 86-57

2. Jaren Jackson Jr. shuts down another go-to player

It’s demoralizing for teams — to have their main guy be taken out of the game offensively. MSU freshman Jaren Jackson Jr. is making a habit of demoralizing defensive performances.

Three days after Jackson shut down Notre Dame All-American Bonzie Colson, he did the same to Nebraska’s most talented player, 6-foot-9 forward Isaac Copeland, a former five-star recruit who transferred from Georgetown.

The best example of this came when Jackson blocked Copeland on back-to-back possessions in the second half, shadowing him, before swatting his shot attempts.

Copeland, who averages 14 points per game, hit 1 of 9 shots and scored four points. 

“I probably saw him as a sophomore and junior (of high school),” Nebraska coach Tim Miles said. “‘Oh, hey, that kid looks pretty good.’ Then you realize, Oh yeah, we can’t recruit him, so you quit paying attention. Then to see him again, ‘He kept growing?’ He was big back them. He’s really impressive. He’s got good skill. Definitely he really alters the game from his spot. … He blocked two jumpers on Copeland. And Cope’s not bad. You have to drive to pass. You can’t drive to score on these guys.”

Jackson is a big part of that and becoming a tremendous defensive weapon. If an opponent’s top scorer is a power forward, that team has almost no chance. 

3. Bowl games overshadow Big Ten hoops

The Big Ten started conference play this weekend because it’s ending conference play a week early to accommodate having the Big Ten tournament at Madison Square Garden in New York. 

This is a one-year deal, so it’s not a problem worth fixing. But Big Ten basketball was entirely overshadowed by the conference championship games and then College Football Playoff selection show and other bowl game announcements. 

Even in East Lansing, the Spartans’ Big Ten opener played second fiddle to the Holiday Bowl announcement for the Spartan Football program. Never again should such a big weekend in college football overlap with the beginning of Big Ten hoops. It needlessly took away from the basketball.

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