NEW YORK − Tom Izzo rattled cages of his leaders and implored his Michigan State basketball team to show more focus than it did against San Jose State.

What a difference five days made.

The deep shots that weren’t falling for the first three games of the season started dropping in abundance. Inside venerable Madison Square Garden, a venue that has not been kind to Izzo and the Spartans’ shooters over the years.

The defense that lapsed last week returned to an elite level, both on the perimeter against Kentucky’s dangerous shooters and in the paint, as well as on the boards.

No. 18 MSU raced out to a 17-point halftime lead in the opening game of the Champions Classic and dispatched the 13th-ranked Wildcats, 83-66 , on Tuesday, Nov. 18.

Jaxon Kohler had 20 points on 8-for-12 shoot

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