EAST LANSING >> In basketball, there’s no greater compliment than defense, but that respect comes with its costs.

Jase Richardson earned opponents’ respect long ago, as the freshman wunderkind of the Michigan State men’s basketball team (29-6) has morphed into one of its stars. Sunday night in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, New Mexico’s defense treated him like one. Doubles and blitzes kept the pressure on. He missed his first nine shots, including five 3s.

At one point, New Mexico star Donovan Dent — a friend of Richardson’s since his sophomore year of high school — brought up the intense pressure.

“He was like ‘We’re not trying to let you see anything go down right now,’” Richardson said Tuesday, with a slight chuckle. “I’m like ‘You’re doing a really good job right now, I’m not gonna lie to you.’”

Richardson can accept an off performance because his team still won — rather convincingly in a 71-63 finish. He finished the game with six points, half of which came from an and-one that helped seal the game. Now, the second-seeded Spartans head to the Sweet 16 to face No. 6 seed Mississippi this Friday in Atlanta. But Richardson’s first clunker is a lesson in what he can expect going forward. Because the farther he and his team go in March Madness, the more he can expect that kind of attention.

“I definitely felt like there was a lot of attention centered around me, just offensively and defensively,” Richardson said. “But I know going through this tournament that teams are going to keep scouting harder and harder as the time goes on, because everybody wants to win. So I know I got to come in prepared with that mentality that they’re going to scout super hard.”

The fact that this was Richardson’s first truly “off” performance is a testament to his abilities, because he isn’t exactly hiding on the scouting report — not a chance since February’s 29-point burst against Oregon in his debut in the starting lineup. He’s been one of the more efficient offensive players on the team, averaging north of 16 points per game as a starter. His defense has been solid, too. Among guards, his knack for rebounding is a huge boost, especially when he can spark the transition with haste.

Against New Mexico, Richardson still made key contributions despite lacking his usual scoring touch. He finished with four assists, tied with Tre Holloman for the team lead. His four rebounds led all guards.

Two steals turned stops into possessions. And in winning time, he hit four free throws including one to finish off an and-one. Be sure, seeing that bucket fall felt good after a difficult game.

“It finally feels like I made something happen in the game,” Richardson said. “… I felt like I made a lot of plays — you know, (the) assist to Tre, getting some key rebounds, getting some steals, stops. But having that one play kind of … seal the game a little bit, it feels really good.”

In reflecting on Sunday’s performance, Richardson doesn’t think the pressure of the moment got to him. His shots just didn’t fall — even some good looks — and that’s what bugged him.

His coaches aren’t all that worried.

“I have faith in him. Didn’t bother me a bit,” Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said Sunday.

“The problem is, it bothers him. And I think he realized that he could do other things.

“He came up with a couple big rebounds. He came up with some of the smartest plays at the end on getting those shots off.”

“I think overall, he did a really nice job of continuing to try to impact the game in different ways, not just with scoring,” assistant coach Jon Borovich said Tuesday. “And I think that’s part of his growth process. Obviously, he’s an elite scorer and talent with the ball in his hands, and playmaking skills, but then like that offensive rebound and putback and-one with two minutes to go in the game — those are huge plays. Game-winning plays.”

Richardson can expect to see the same kind of defensive pressure going forward, especially against a Mississippi team that already loves to play high pressure, anyway.

However, neither he nor his coaches expect another off performance.

“Somebody said, ‘Well, he went 1-for-10,’ you know — one of the last guys I worried about,” Izzo said Tuesday. “… And he’s proven it. It’s just the nature of who he is.”

Put another way, he’s not afraid of the big moments or the bright lights, each of which are at their peak in March Madness.

And while Richardson learns to deal with how defenses respect him, that respect is there for a reason.