Michigan State Basketball: Staff score predictions at Purdue

Michigan State basketball is looking to exact revenge against Purdue on Saturday, but does the Spartan Ave staff smell an upset?

Saturday’s matchup in West Lafayette against Purdue is not going to be easy for Michigan State basketball. The Spartans are slightly undersized in the matchup and will have a tough time slowing down Isaac Haas and Caleb Swanigan, just like they did the first time.

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During the first meeting, the two were tied at halftime before the Boilermakers really pulled away in the second half, taking an 84-73 victory in East Lansing. Can the Spartans somehow defy the odds and pick up a huge win on the road?

Take a look at the Spartan Ave score predictions for the big game.

Connor Muldowney: While I think Michigan State can keep this close and even make the Boilermakers sweat it out in the final minutes, Purdue is just too strong in the post. Swanigan is going to have yet another double-double, but he won’t get it as easy as he did in East Lansing. Ward will counter with 10 points and eight rebounds of his own and Winston will add 12 points. Swanigan and Haas combine for 34 points and 20 rebounds, though.

Final: Michigan State 64, Purdue 73

Ryan McCumber: Michigan State takes on Purdue for the second time, after losing the first game against the Boilermakers at home. This is a bad match up for the Spartans. MSU’s tallest player is 6-foot-8, while Purdue has two giants in Isaac Haas and Caleb Swanigan. The only ways MSU can win this game is if it gets Swanigan and Haas in foul trouble, or shoot the lights out from the field.

Final: Michigan State 59, Purdue 71

Adam Zdroik: This is probably MSU’s hardest game of the conference season so there’s that. Even if Nick Ward doesn’t get into foul trouble, the Spartans will still have problems against Swanigan and Haas. The paths to victory are slim and that’s the only way I see this going. State will need to limit Purdue’s open looks and continue to get production from Josh Langford and Alvin Ellis.

Final score: Michigan State 68, Purdue 76

Stephen Robb: This is a tough matchup for the surging Spartans and one that I am doubtful they get a “W” in. Caleb Swanigan is a beast and of one of the best players in the Big Ten. Nick Ward is still young and growing however and Miles Bridges is putting together some solid games. Michigan State must cut down on the turnovers in order to stay in this game. The Spartans come up short down the stretch.

Final: Michigan State 69, Purdue 74

Ian Olsen: Matt Costello grabbed the offensive board, spun around his defender, and threw down a reverse slam while drawing a foul. The play visibly gut-checked Boilermaker players and exhilarated Costello’s teammates. He sunk the free throw, and the team controlled the remainder of the game to solidify its trip to the NCAA Tournament.

That was March 4, 2015, the last time Michigan State faced Purdue in a late regular season game with an opportunity to boost its chances at a tournament bid.

If the team is to defeat Purdue Saturday, it needs to execute more efficiently than it has all season. It must correct a team weakness, turnovers: Will Cassius Winston play more under control and Miles Bridges deliver while limiting mistakes? It needs to capitalize on a team strength, three-point shooting: Will Eron Harris emerge and Alvin Ellis light a fuse like he did Tuesday?

Following back-to-back must-win games reaping meager reward, Michigan State gets a shot at a game of high potential prize. The Spartans will be underdogs Saturday. Their undersized front court will attempt to contain forceful power forward Caleb Swanigan and 7-foot-2 center Isaac Haas, something it failed to do in the teams’ first meeting.

But we’ve witnessed each Spartan at their best this season – Bridges shine on both ends, Nick Ward dominate the paint, Harris pour in threes, and Winston control the court with slick dimes – without yet seeing these factors coalesce in games. When will they come together?

The 2015 win over Purdue sparked excitement, unity, and a winning streak that led the No. 7 seed Spartans to the Final Four – and which continued through a 13-0 start of the 2015-2016 season.

The Big Ten Tourney, a potential NCAA Tournament run and, for developing talent, a jump start to a promising 2017-18 season are ahead. And as in 2015, a rallying win against Purdue can be a catalyst.

Final: Michigan State 71, Purdue 70

Daniel Gottschalk: Michigan State rebounded well against Ohio State after its stunningly bad performance versus Michigan. Now they will have to go on the road to take on a tough Purdue team. Purdue’s bigs create a huge matchup problem for MSU and its paper thin front court. Even a 33-point performance from Miles Bridges in the first matchup in East Lansing was not enough for a win. The young Spartans have not fared well on the road this season and I don’t expect that to change today.

Final: Michigan State 66, Purdue 81

Joe Clifford: Michigan State is coming off back-to-back victories, and will try to make it three in a row against Purdue. Miles Bridges will need another monstrous performance if the Spartans are going to have a chance to pull off the upset. Caleb Swanigan will have a big game and Purdue will beat the Spartans by double digits.

Final: Michigan State 66, Purdue 76

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