NEW YORK — Nothing needed to be said after Tuesday night’s game — it was all said on the court during Michigan State’s 83-66 win over Kentucky.

But the aftermath was also telling.

MSU had bullied Kentucky. This was an identity game in every sense, and everyone in the Spartans’ locker room at Madison Square Garden was clear about the Spartans’ identity.

“Toughness,” Jeremy Fears Jr. said, no hesitation.

Meanwhile, in a press conference not far away, Kentucky’s coach and players struggled to come to grips with what had just occurred and how far they were from having the identity they wanted — the identity MSU has.

“I feel like this group has the capabilities to be that physical, physically imposing team, playing for each other, just playing our heart outs. But we haven't shown that yet,

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