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Michigan State and LSU will play in the Sweet 16 Tournament of the NCAA Tournament on Friday, March 29, 2019 in Washington, DC. Let's get to know the Tigers.
Marlowe Alter, Detroit Free Press

THE MONKS, Ia. – With time running out and Michigan State needing something to emerge, Cassius Winston drove hard and fired a pass to the left for Aaron Henry.

This weekend has been rich in events for the spartan rookie. The NCAA tournament is very thorough. But Henry was not fading here. He calmly buried the fast pass for his first trey of the tournament.

On the sidelines of the competition, Tom Izzo waved his hand gently and fisted softly as the Spartans came back in the middle of the second half. After Henry and his coach made the headlines to start their stay in Des Moines, everything is going well in the Spartan world.

Saturday's 70-50 win over Minnesota, which propelled the state of Michigan to the second weekend for the first time since 2015, took care of that.

"I was just trying to win the game, go to Sweet Sixteen, help this team with what I could do and play my best ball," said Henry.

"I was just trying to manage my work. Coffey (Amir from Minnesota) was caught early – and he did a good job – but I tried to do everything I could to contain him. And then just bounce the ball and score points when I can. Playing in me and playing my role was huge. "

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Aaron Henry of Michigan State bounces against Minnesota in the second half of his second-round NCAA game on Saturday, March 23, 2019, at the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo: Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press)

Henry delivered a versatile state line: nine points on a four-on-five shot, nine rebounds and three assists. Saturday was his fifth 30-minute game this month, after just two such games in the first 28 games.

As a new but talented newcomer still settling into the frenzy of the month of March, Henry received an abrupt introduction. The outcry over social media and the Internet surrounding Izzo's clip scolding Henry during the break Thursday could have shaken a baseless freshman. But Henry remained unfazed as the weekend progressed.

More: Michigan State survives and fans want to hug Aaron Henry

He looked steady Saturday, as did the rest of Michigan State.

"Aaron does things you do not see," said assistant head coach Dane Fife. "Aaron has a great feeling for the game. Sometimes it's like a senior is on defense because he understands it very well. We're just trying to make sure he focuses on the things he can control and that his emotions are not drawn into things he can not control. "

It was big against Minnesota. Although Henry spent most of the day on Thursday and Friday minimizing Izzo's implosion, there was enough noise to generate a distraction if Henry was not stuck.

He was from the opening point.

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Henry thundered the first possession of Michigan State. He helped Coffey, who had 27 points, a top in the game, but needed 24 shots to get there. Henry's domination on the boards was a microcosm of the night, while Michigan State ended with an incredible 45-19 advantage over the glass.

The Spartans will need their freshman to go even further. The next stop is a flight to Washington, DC for LSU in the Sweet Sixteen – a place where Henry is happy to head after a few hectic days.

"I just wanted to relax and play basketball," said Henry. "I mean, I just spoke with the coach, and I wanted to play as I know I can and what the coach expects of me."

Dargan Southard covers athletics Iowa and UNI, recruiting and preparing the Monks' register, HawkCentral.com and the citizen-citizen of Iowa City. Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @Dargan_Southard.

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