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Michigan State Basketball: 5 bold predictions for January

By Connor Muldowney

Dec 6, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; (Left to right) Michigan State Spartans guard Miles Bridges (not dressed) guard Cassius Winston (5) and guard Kyle Ahrens (0) celebrate from the bench during the second half against the Youngstown State Penguins at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Spartans win 77-57. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 6, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; (Left to right) Michigan State Spartans guard Miles Bridges (not dressed) guard Cassius Winston (5) and guard Kyle Ahrens (0) celebrate from the bench during the second half against the Youngstown State Penguins at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Spartans win 77-57. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 25, 2016; Paradise Island, BAHAMAS; Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo speaks with guard Miles Bridges (22) during the first half against the Wichita State Shockers in the 2016 Battle 4 Atlantis in the Imperial Arena at the Atlantis Resort. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 25, 2016; Paradise Island, BAHAMAS; Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo speaks with guard Miles Bridges (22) during the first half against the Wichita State Shockers in the 2016 Battle 4 Atlantis in the Imperial Arena at the Atlantis Resort. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Miles Bridges needs three games to get back to old self

By the time Miles Bridges steps onto the court on Wednesday against Rutgers, it’ll have been 36 days since he played a meaningful minute of basketball. He hasn’t seen the floor since Nov. 29 against Duke in which he played a solid game in a losing effort — arguably the Spartans’ best loss of the season.

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That long of a rest period between games can have a negative affect on a player. I’m not saying Bridges has lost a step or even his confidence, but he does need to get some of it back by repetition. Seeing the floor in limited time against the Scarlet Knights won’t allow him to regain every last ounce of confidence.

It’s going to take a few games for Bridges to feel comfortable on that ankle and for him to feel like he has his spring back.

Before his injury, he was the team’s leading scorer, 16.6 points, and rebounder, 8.8 boards, but now he will have to ease into a role which is more comfortable for him. He’s not going to come in right away and dominate, but he will after a few contests of being a role player.

I say it will take a week before Bridges is back to his old form, playing it safe against Rutgers and Penn State before then. By next Wednesday against Minnesota, the freshman sensation will be back to his old ways.

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