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Michigan State Basketball: Preview, prediction vs. Rutgers in Week 10

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MI - JANUARY 4: Cassius Winston #5 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: Cassius Winston #5 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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Michigan State will face Rutgers for the second time in the young Big Ten season. Here’s the preview and prediction for the matchup.

For the second time this season, Michigan State will take on Rutgers, looking to rebound from a blowout road loss to Ohio State. The Spartans have an opportunity to prep for a big game against Michigan on Saturday with this game and it’s an opportunity to correct mistakes from the loss on Sunday.

Must Read: MSU Basketball: 5 takeaways from Ohio State upset

Michigan State (15-2, 3-1 Big Ten) took down Rutgers (11-6, 1-3) on the road in the first matchup for their first true road victory on the year. The Spartans will be heavy favorites once again and the Scarlet Knights might have to prepare to face an angry team looking to let off some steam.

The Spartans’ loss to Ohio State was their first defeat in nearly two months and they responded to their first loss of the season with a 14-game winning streak. Will we see the same take place this time? It’s possible, but it’ll have to start with the struggling Scarlet Knights.

Here’s how you can watch Wednesday’s Michigan State vs. Rutgers game:

Date: Wednesday, Jan. 10
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Location: East Lansing, Mich.
Venue: Breslin Center
TV: Big Ten Network
Live Stream: BTN2Go

Keys to Victory

Michigan State must pressure Rutgers’ shooters because they aren’t exactly known for making a high percentage of their shots. If the Spartans can get out to the perimeter as well as shut down driving lanes, you’ll see the Scarlet Knights start to panic and that’s when the turnovers will begin to pile up. Rutgers isn’t a sharp-shooting team, by any means, so the Spartans must make them take shots they’d normally pass on.

Offensively, Nick Ward needs to get the ball in the post more and he also needs to immediately pass out of double-teams. He hasn’t figured out how to counteract them yet, but this is a good opportunity for him to practice and become accustomed to getting doubled in the post and still finding ways to score. Moreover, Miles Bridges must attack the rim more.

Rutgers Players to Watch

Although Rutgers doesn’t exactly shoot the ball well — 42 percent from the floor and 29 percent from 3-point range — the Scarlet Knights do have a solid scorer leading the way. On top of that, they are also one of the best rebounding teams in the nation, giving them plenty of opportunities to score second-chance points.

  • Corey Sanders — 13.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.5 steals
  • Deshawn Freeman — 11.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.1 blocks
  • Geo Baker — 11.6 points, 3.7 assists, 2.6 rebounds, 1.2 steals
  • Issa Thiam — 7.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 46% FG shooting, 39% 3-point shooting

Next: MSU Basketball: Game-by-game predictions for January

Prediction

Michigan State is angry. This team wants to prove that the Ohio State loss was a serious outlier to the 15-2 start to the season. The Spartans will get a much better performance on Wednesday night than they showed on Sunday night against the Buckeyes. Nick Ward is going to shake off that three-point showing against the Buckeyes to drop 20 and 11 rebounds. Miles Bridges will also attack more and be a much more aggressive scorer while Cassius Winston also finishes with a double-double.

Final Score: Rutgers 61, Michigan State 82

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