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Michigan State Basketball: 10 bold predictions for 2016-17 season

By Connor Muldowney

Mar 7, 2015; Bloomington, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans coach Tom Izzo watches his team warm up before the game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Assembly Hall. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 7, 2015; Bloomington, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans coach Tom Izzo watches his team warm up before the game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Assembly Hall. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 7, 2015; Bloomington, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans coach Tom Izzo watches his team warm up before the game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Assembly Hall. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 7, 2015; Bloomington, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans coach Tom Izzo watches his team warm up before the game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Assembly Hall. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

Michigan State basketball is set to begin the 2016-17 season on Friday and here are some bold predictions.

It’s almost that time again. Michigan State basketball is just hours from tipping off its 2016-17 season and there are some high expectations for this year’s team. At least after last season, the Spartans will likely have a much better finish to this year. An early exit in the NCAA Tournament has left a sour taste in all of our mouths — just imagine how Tom Izzo and the players feel.

With his best freshman class coming in, Izzo knows that he has the talent to work with and a team that can make a deep run in March. However, a lack of bigs may cost this team early on.

Will this year’s Michigan State team be better than last year’s which finished the regular season and Big Ten Tournament with a 29-5 record, earning a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament? It’s possible, but it might take some time before these guys really gel and put together a solid run.

It’ll be a tough first month of play, but here our 10 bold predictions for Michigan State basketball this season.

10. Tum Tum improves on offense

Nov 13, 2015; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Lourawls Nairn Jr. (11) brings the ball up court during the second half of a game against the Florida Atlantic Owls at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. MSU won 82-55. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 13, 2015; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Lourawls Nairn Jr. (11) brings the ball up court during the second half of a game against the Florida Atlantic Owls at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. MSU won 82-55. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports /

You can’t really say anything bad about Lourawls Nairn when it comes to his leadership and defensive prowess. Izzo has even called him one of the best leaders on the team, and that shouldn’t surprise anyone.

Before last season, we heard about how Tum Tum was going to be better on offense and how he worked all summer long to improve his jumper, but it never came to fruition. He averaged less than three points per game and dished out 3.3 assists per game. His shooting percentage was even more horrific at 38 percent and 18 percent from deep.

That will change this season as he is going to gain some confidence as the team captain and leader. He has the speed to get to the rack and in the past he has driven and dished it out for a lower percentage shot. Expect him to take it to the hole and finish on his own this year.

Look out for him in fast-break situations as well. He could be a major factor and could engineer one of the best fast-break teams in the country with his explosiveness.

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