The Illini lost their focus
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Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Between Hack-a-Kofi and Co., forcing Ayo to his left, and intimidating Illinois into missing 20 layups, Tom Izzo and the Michigan State Spartans shut down Illinois’s high-powered offense on Tuesday. Sure, it’s okay to have a clunker now and then. But the issue on Tuesday, aside from MSU potentially seriously injuring Illinois’s two best players, was a lack of focus. Missing as many layups and free throws as they did is unacceptable for any team, let alone one that wants to win the Big Ten title.