Michigan State Basketball: 5 bold predictions vs. Duke in Week 2

Anything can happen this early in the season, but here are some bold predictions for Michigan State basketball against Duke.

With football season winding down, that can only mean one thing: Michigan State basketball is back. The Spartans opened the year last Friday against North Florida and came away with an “ugly” 32-point win as Tom Izzo would describe it.

The Spartans turned the ball over 21 times and didn’t make their 3-pointers. They could have obviously blown North Florida out even more if they played to their potential, but it was the first game of the year and sloppy mistakes are made.

Duke, the nation’s No. 1 team, awaits the Spartans on Tuesday night in Chicago for the Champions Classic. It should be one of the best early-season battles in college basketball.

Here’s what we think will happen during Tuesday night’s Champions Classic matchup.

5. Jaren Jackson Jr. finishes with six blocks

In his first-ever college basketball action in the exhibition opener against Ferris State, Jaren Jackson Jr. finished with an impressive eight blocks, and he made it look easy. In his first regular season action against North Florida, Jackson Jr. recorded four blocks and four “that were intimidated” according to Tom Izzo.

It’s safe to say that Jackson Jr. is a shot-blocking machine. He knows how to time the jumps perfectly and sway a would-be layup or jumper. Sometimes he doesn’t even have to jump — he’s that long.

Duke will try to be too aggressive in the post with Jackson Jr. and guy like Grayson Allen, Trevon Duval and Gary Trent Jr. will drive the lane and the freshman will be standing there waiting to deliver some punishment.

The Blue Devils will forget that it’s Jackson Jr.’s lane, and they’re just borrowing it. He will finish with six blocks against the Blue Devils, pushing his two-game total to 10.