On the surface, Michigan State's win over Rutgers Wednesday night isn't all that impressive, considering Rutgers has not won a Big Ten game all season. But the deeper you look into it, this was Michigan State's fifth consecutive win and ninth in their last 10 games. Like always, Tom Izzo has his team rounding into form at the perfect time, as the NCAA Tournament is coming up.
While it was a great performance for the Spartans as a team (they won by 31 points), it was an even better night for shooting guard Bryn Forbes, who scored a career-high 33 points in the game and brought Michigan State out of a little lull they had in the first half.
Among Forbes' 33 points was a Big Ten record 11 three pointers, and overall, he has been tremendous from deep all season. Forbes made two of his first five three pointers but then proceeded to make nine of his last 11 in a stellar shooting performance.
The accurate long range shooting is nothing new for Forbes, though, as he is third in the nation at 52 percent from deep on the season. What makes that even more impressive is the fact that Forbes is the only player in the top 12 of the three point percentage leader board to have attempted 200 threes. The next closest is Giddy Potts of Middle Tennessee State with 134 attempts.
Denzel Valentine has been getting all of the publicity for Michigan State this season, and rightfully so, as he is a semifinalist for the Naismith Trophy, but Forbes is a huge key to this team and has delivered all season. There have been times when Forbes hasn't been aggressive enough, and the Spartans have suffered for it, but recently, he has been on a tear, and that has coincided with Michigan State's great play.
With Selection Sunday only a little more than a week away, many people have said that Michigan State might be the favorite to win the whole thing. Valentine is the headliner, but Forbes may be the key to the Spartans making that happen. The senior guard has come through all year for the Spartans, and Wednesday night's performance is proof of just how much he is capable of come tournament time.
