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Michigan State Basketball: 5 reasons the Spartans will beat Michigan in Week 10

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MI - JANUARY 4: Nick Ward #44 and Jaren Jackson Jr. #2 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrate from the bench 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 and Jaren Jackson Jr. #2 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrate from the bench 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 basketball will host Michigan on Saturday afternoon for a major rivalry game. Here’s why the Spartans will win.

Just when we thought we wouldn’t have to deal with the Michigan versus Michigan State rivalry again until next fall, basketball season hits. The Spartans and Wolverines only play each other once this season, which is a robbery to fans and members of the media who love good rivalries.

Michigan State has won five of the last six matchups, but no one has forgotten about the 29-point drubbing the Wolverines gave the Spartans in Ann Arbor last season. That was the last time these two teams matched up and Michigan State is ready to avenge that loss.

Here are five reasons the Spartans will beat Michigan on Saturday afternoon.

5. Spartans will cut down on turnovers

Turnovers have plagued Michigan State all year long and they’ve also driven Tom Izzo mad. He’s spoken about the need for this team to cut down on the ‘casual turnovers’ and valuing each possession. That won’t change on Saturday as the Spartans will feel much more pressure to score each time down the floor that they will protect the ball more than usual.

This isn’t to say that Michigan State plays carelessly against inferior opponents, but the Spartans do seem to step it up a notch against teams that are closer to their level of talent.

The Wolverines are going to play aggressively, but the Spartans will take advantage and hit some backdoor cuts and alley-oops. The over-aggression on defense just to match the Spartans’ intensity will backfire at times for the Wolverines as it’ll give Michigan State some easy buckets.

Not just that, but it’ll have the opposite effect as the Spartans will cut down on the silly turnovers and finish with a 3-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio for the game.

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