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Michigan State Basketball: 5 bold predictions vs. Oakland in Week 6

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 30: Joshua Langford #1 of the Michigan State Spartans drives to the basket against Temple Gibbs JR. #10 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Breslin Center on November 30, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 30: Joshua Langford #1 of the Michigan State Spartans drives to the basket against Temple Gibbs JR. #10 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Breslin Center on November 30, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
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Michigan State basketball is looking for its 10th win of the season on Saturday and here are some bold predictions for the Oakland matchup.

Having struggled to effectively put Oakland in the past, Michigan State knows that taking down the Golden Grizzlies won’t be an easy task. The Spartans are 9-1 on the season with two wins over top-10 teams under their belts while Oakland is 6-4 with a couple of blowout losses to Syracuse and Kansas already.

Greg Kampe is a heck of a coach and will have his team ready while Tom Izzo won’t let his Spartans take the Golden Grizzlies lightly. This is going to be one of the first college basketball games played at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.

Saturday afternoon’s matchup should be one of the better non-conference battles for Michigan State this season. Here are some bold predictions.

5. Jalen Hayes held in check

Being a native of Lansing, there’s a good chance Jalen Hayes wants to show off against the Spartans. He didn’t receive a Michigan State offer out of high school from his hometown team and he has been trying to prove himself ever since.

So far in 2017-18, he has done just that, missing the first four games but since putting up an average of 19.3 points and 9.3 rebounds per contest. The 6-foot-7, 213-pound forward will have a tough time in the post against the Spartans, though. He doesn’t quite have the length or size to contend with Nick Ward or Jaren Jackson Jr. on the glass and they are aggressive defensively.

Despite his strong start his senior season, Hayes will be held in check by the Spartans and finish with his lowest scoring output of the season to go along with just five rebounds. He is the most worrisome player the Golden Grizzlies have for the Spartans in the post, but he will finish with just nine points and five boards.

On top of that, he will have at least three shots blocked by Jaren Jackson Jr. which will further his frustrations.

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