Columnist Graham Couch gives his thoughts on Michigan State's performance Wednesday night in a narrow victory over Penn State with three quick takes.

Frankie Fidler held his hands over his eyes and reached for the sky. About 25 minutes into a breakthrough performance in Wednesday’s 90-85 win over Penn State, the Michigan State forward had nailed a 3 from the top of the arc.

No. 12 Michigan State was led by senior forward Frankie Fidler in its win over Penn State on Wednesday. The veteran wing scored a season-high 18 points while grabbing a team-high seven boards.

Penn State has officially lost its defensive coordinator. Tom Allen, after one just season with the Nittany Lions, was formally named Clemson’s new defensive coordinator on Tuesday afternoon.

As Franklin said before hiring Allen last year, Penn State's defense is not in rebuild mode. The program is about winning now, which the returns of Drew Allar, Nicholas Singleton, Kaytron Allen and offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki have foreshadowed. Franklin is chasing hardware next season, and the defensive coordinator hire will reflect that.

Allen, he said, wasn’t looking for a job. He was laser-focused on Penn State’s CFP semifinal game against Notre Dame at the Orange Bowl. The Nittany Lions made the field as an at-large team (No. 6 seed) and won games against SMU and Boise State.