Michigan State Goes for a School Worst 36

A few nights ago, St. Louis set a record for low scoring in the shot clock era with 20. Michigan State may have only set a personal worst in the school's history by getting only 36 points in a 43-36 loss to Iowa. Their lowest point production in the shot clock era.

Michigan State may not have matched the futility of St. Louis's sub-15% shooting and nearly doubled the total scoring. There's a significant difference, though, in the talent level at Michigan State versus St. Louis. The Spartans were ranked in the top-10 and expected to contend for the Big Ten championship. St. Louis is in the first year with a new coach and system.

Michigan State went almost 10 minutes without scoring and turned the ball over 18 times in the course of the game. Iowa was pretty bad as well, but they are in complete rebuilding status. This game should have aberration tagged to it, but for the fact that the Spartans also managed to lose to Division II Grand Valley State in an exhibition this season.

Among the other 7 top-10 teams that played today, 5 -- UNC, Kansas, UCLA, Tennessee and Texas A&M -- scored as much or more than the 79 combined points of this game. Yow.