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Michigan State Basketball: 5 reasons Spartans will beat Oakland in Week 6

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 30: Nick Ward #44 of the Michigan State Spartans shoots the ball during the game against 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: Nick Ward #44 of the Michigan State Spartans shoots the ball during the game against 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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EAST LANSING, MI – NOVEMBER 30: Nick Ward #44 of the Michigan State Spartans shoots the ball during the game against 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: Nick Ward #44 of the Michigan State Spartans shoots the ball during the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Breslin Center on November 30, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

3. Michigan State has a major advantage in the post

Does Oakland have anyone who can guard guys like Jaren Jackson Jr. or Nick Ward? Probably not. Although Jalen Hayes has been a monster for the Golden Grizzlies down low this season, he is just 6-foot-8 and won’t be able to do it all on his own.

Hayes will be helped out by Isaiah Brock, Chris Palombizio and Julius Palmer, but the rest of this team is slightly undersized. None of those guys stands over 6-foot-10 and the Golden Grizzlies are going to see just why the Spartans are the most feared defensive team in the paint nationwide.

In fact, Michigan State averages the most blocks per game of any team in college basketball with 8.3 and holds teams under 32 percent shooting from inside the arc, which is the best in the country as well. That effort is spearheaded by Jackson Jr. and Ward, but also bigs off the bench such as Gavin Schilling, Ben Carter and Xavier Tillman.

The length in the post is going to be an issue for the Grizzlies as they won’t be able to slow down Michigan State’s bigs on offense nor will they be able to penetrate on defense. The post dominance for Michigan State is a major factor.

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