Spartan Avenue
Fansided

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

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MI - DECEMBER 18: Miles Bridges #22 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts during the game against the Houston Baptist Huskies at the Jack T. Breslin Student Events Center on December 18, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - DECEMBER 18: Miles Bridges #22 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts during the game against the Houston Baptist Huskies at the Jack T. Breslin Student Events Center on December 18, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Saturday afternoon’s Michigan State basketball game against in-state rival Michigan will have serious Big Ten title implications.

As you can imagine, there is worry creeping into Spartan Nation following an overtime win over Rutgers at home. Michigan State looked pedestrian, at best, against the Scarlet Knights in East Lansing on Wednesday night and now in-state rival Michigan comes to town.

Must Read: MSU Football: Way-too-early game-by-game predictions for 2018

The Wolverines just lost to Purdue by a point in Ann Arbor, but they have plenty of talent to contend with a team like the Spartans. Before the season, everyone expected this game to be a blowout, but the two teams are much more closely matched than originally thought.

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

Date: Saturday, Jan. 13
Time: 12:00 p.m. ET
Location: East Lansing, Mich.
Venue: Breslin Center
TV: FOX
Live Stream: FOX Sports Go

Keys to Victory

There’s no question, Miles Bridges must be more aggressive. Tom Izzo talked about getting his superstar to be “more of a jerk” and that needs to start on Saturday. Does he have it in him to take over a game? We will soon find out, but the Spartans will need him to be more of a dominating presence rather than a shy shooter.

Defensively, it’s obvious that Michigan likes to take as many 3-pointers as a defense is willing to give. The Spartans must latch down on the perimeter and force Michigan to drive to the hoop. The Wolverines aren’t exactly a team known for getting to the rack with ease, so guarding that perimeter will be priority No. 1.

Michigan Players to Watch

Michigan has had a quiet season in the Big Ten, yet the Wolverines are right there in the race, sitting at 14-4 overall and 3-2 in conference play. They’re led by Kentucky transfer Charles Matthews and returning star Mo Wagner who passed up the NBA for another season.

  • Charles Matthews — 15.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 55% FG shooting
  • Mo Wagner — 13.9 points, 7.1 rebounds, 55% FG shooting
  • Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman — 10.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists
  • Jordan Poole — 6.5 points, 42% 3-point shooting
  • Zavier Simpson — 5.7 points, 3.4 assists, 1.3 steals, 54% FG shooting

The Wolverines shoot about 48 percent from the floor and 37 percent from 3-point range. This team can fill it up from outside, but is streaky.

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

Prediction

This is a game that no Michigan State fan is currently excited about. The Spartans are coming off two of their worst performances of the season and they look to be reeling and in a major shooting slump, but this is the type of game that could get their engines revving again. Don’t think Miles Bridges and Co. have forgotten about the 86-57 loss from last season, but that won’t stop this rivalry game from going down to the wire. Bridges will, however, come up with some big plays and be “more of a jerk” like Izzo wanted him to be, finishing as the game’s leading scorer.

Final Score: Michigan 76, Michigan State 81

Home/Spartans Basketball