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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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PORTLAND, OR – NOVEMBER 26: Michigan State Spartans forward Miles Bridges #22 blocks the shot of North Carolina Tar Heels guard Joel Berry II #2 in the first half of the game during the PK80-Phil Knight Invitational presented by State Farm at the Moda Center on November 26, 2017 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR – NOVEMBER 26: Michigan State Spartans forward Miles Bridges #22 blocks the shot of North Carolina Tar Heels guard Joel Berry II #2 in the first half of the game during the PK80-Phil Knight Invitational presented by State Farm at the Moda Center on November 26, 2017 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /

3. Golden Grizzlies held under 30 percent from 3-point range

When was the last time Michigan State held a team under 35 percent shooting from 3-point land? You’d only have to go back to the Rutgers game, but before that, North Carolina was the last team to fall short of that mark.

Michigan State has let Southern Utah, Notre Dame, Nebraska, Stony Brook, Duke and North Florida all surpass that 35 percent clip from deep-range, and that needs to be corrected.

Although Oakland averages about 35 percent from 3-point range on the season, the Spartans’ perimeter defense will finally step up and hold the Golden Grizzlies to under 35 percent. Heck, I’ll take it one step further and say the Spartans will keep them under 30 percent for the game which will force some shots in the post, which isn’t going to work in this team’s favor.

Kendrick Nunn and Martez Walker will each make a few threes, but that’ll basically be it from the Golden Grizzlies as they’ll finish the game 7-for-23 from deep and the Spartans will thrive off of that poor shooting.

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