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Michigan State Basketball: 5 bold predictions vs. Ohio State in Week 9

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MI - JANUARY 4: Nick Ward #44 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts during the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Breslin Center on January 4, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - JANUARY 4: Nick Ward #44 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts during the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Breslin Center on January 4, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
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EAST LANSING, MI – JANUARY 4: Nick Ward #44 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts during the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Breslin Center on January 4, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI – JANUARY 4: Nick Ward #44 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts during the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Breslin Center on January 4, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

2. Nick Ward gets double-double in return home

Local prospect Nick Ward passed up the opportunity to stay home and play college ball in order to head north to play for Tom Izzo and Michigan State. The relationship in East Lansing may have seemed bumpy, at times, but Ward and Izzo have a strong connection and the head coach is tough on his big man because he knows just how great he can be.

That’s made Ward a better player and person and now he gets to show off in front of friends and family back near his hometown of Gahanna, Ohio. Playing Ohio State isn’t just another game for Ward, but a chance to prove himself in front of familiar faces and we usually learn a lot about players in these types of games.

Ward is the kind of player who likes to get the ball in his hands and go to work, no matter the pressure-packed situation, and he’s going to have a field day against the Buckeyes in a return home.

The game will start off slow for the 6-foot-8 sophomore forward as Chris Holtmann will make sure he’s double-teamed in the post on entry passes, but he will rebound in the second half to finish with another double-double. The confidence of Ward is like a freight train right now — no one is stopping it or slowing it down.

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