Michigan State Basketball: 5 bold predictions for January 2018
Facing a big month of January to start Big Ten action, Michigan State basketball has plenty to take care of in order to prove itself as a national contender.
The month of January is upon us and Michigan State basketball is turning a new page into 2018. The Spartans had an up-and-down 2017 calendar year, dating back to last January, but Tom Izzo has a much more talented team on his hands this season.
Michigan State heads into Big Ten play with a 14-1 overall record, looking to run away with the conference just as everyone is predicting. However, the Spartans have plenty of work to do and correcting 3-point defense, turnovers and spacing are three key areas of improvement that need to take place before March.
Conference play is back, though, and we have an exciting month of January ahead of us. Let’s take a look at five bolds predictions for Michigan State basketball this month.
5. Jaren Jackson Jr. becomes more dominant in the post
If there’s one thing Spartan fans have been begging to see, it’s Jaren Jackson Jr. in the post. No, I’m not even talking about him dominating down low, but just setting up on offense in the post with that 6-foot-11 frame that seems to grow with each game.
However, he’s often planted on the perimeter, looking to either facilitate or get an open jumper. Not often enough is he sizing up a smaller defender down low and going to work to earn himself an easy bucket. He has the potential to do just that, but he hasn’t done nearly enough of it.
Jackson Jr.’s presence has been put to use in the wrong areas on offense, but once Big Ten play hits, I could see Tom Izzo forcing him to play on the block more as opposed to standing on the perimeter. Sure, that area is reserved for Nick Ward, but why not have two dominant bodies down low.
The freshman is bigger than anyone he will face in January and he’s going to need to be more dominant down low, and he’ll do just that. He’s going to post up more often and add to his offensive rebound total. I’d expect Jackson Jr. to cut his 3-point attempts and shoot more down low. He will average about 12 points and nine rebounds in January.