Spartan Avenue
Fansided

Michigan State Basketball: Staff score predictions vs. UConn in PK80

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 19: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans during players introduction prior to the game against the Stony Brook Seawolves at Breslin Center on November 19, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 19: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans during players introduction prior to the game against the Stony Brook Seawolves at Breslin Center on November 19, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Michigan State basketball will be taking on Connecticut on Friday night, or early Saturday morning, in the Phil Knight Invitational semifinals.

If you stayed up late on Thursday night to watch the first round of the Phil Knight Invitational between Michigan State and DePaul, you would have seen a Spartan team that struggled early but turned it on late.

Must Read: MSU Basketball: 5 takeaways from win over DePaul

Even without Miles Bridges, the Spartans looked to be just fine in the second half after looking confused early on. With the win, the Spartans improved to 3-1 on the year and will face an undefeated Connecticut team on Friday at midnight.

Who comes out on top Friday night in the PK80 semifinals?

Connor Muldowney: The Spartans are going to get off to a quick start, finally, and it will be thanks to the post play from Nick Ward and Jaren Jackson Jr. They will combine for 35 points and 17 rebounds as Connecticut will have no answer for the bigs and having a few more come off the bench will wear down the Huskies. Josh Langford and Matt McQuaid will make some big threes as well and the Spartans will win relatively easily.

Final Score: UConn 64, Michigan State 75

Stephen Robb: UConn had a miracle 2014 run to the title but since then it has done little. This season the Huskies are 4-0 with a huge win over Oregon. This team relies heavily on its starters. Miles Bridges didn’t play against DePaul and Matt McQuaid stepped up. This Spartan squad is uber talented.

Final Score: UConn 59, Michigan State 68

Michael Briggs: Michigan State picked up an important victory Thanksgiving night against DePaul with a “three-and-D” approach. With Miles Bridges sidelined, it was encouraging to see the Spartans get a big performance from another perimeter player in Matt McQuaid and overcome a lackluster first half. Now, MSU may need to rally again without Bridges against a better opponent in Connecticut on Friday night.

If Michigan State can get by the Huskies (with or without Bridges), it will likely have an opportunity to get a premier win against North Carolina. After dropping a winnable game against Duke earlier this season, that would be a nice morale booster. MSU knows it can play with anyone in the country, but actually beating one of the blue bloods in November could help propel the Spartans into conference play. For that to happen, Michigan State needs to find a way to limit an explosive UConn backcourt a day after a hard-fought victory. If Bridges plays, MSU shouldn’t have too much issue with the Huskies. Without him, it will be closer, but I still expect the Spartans to pull out the win.

Final Score: UConn 64, Michigan State 71

Next: MSU Basketball: Report card for win over DePaul

Adam Zdroik: The first half of the DePaul game was hard to watch and without Matt McQuaid and Conner George this game could be against Oregon. Wait, what? Nick Ward needs to do something in this one. UConn has been shaky all season and the Oregon win was a surprise. The Huskies are guard-heavy yet only made three 3-pointers against the Ducks. That should lead to a JJJ triple-double in blocks. Spartans win without Bridges.

Final Score: UConn 60, Michigan State 68

Home/Spartans Basketball