Michigan State Basketball: 5 bold predictions vs. Illinois in Week 12

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EAST LANSING, MI – JANUARY 4: Joshua Langford 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) /

3. Josh Langford bounces back with at least 15 points

In three out of the past five games, Josh Langford has failed to reach the 10-point mark — that’s just one less single-digit game than he had in the previous 15 games. During that five-game stretch, he’s shooting just 41 percent from the floor and averaging 10.4 points.

While that might not seem all that bad, it’s also below his season averages by a decent margin. In fact, he averages 13.2 points and shoots about 47 percent from the floor. He has the ability to put up 20-plus points on any given night, but he hasn’t reached that mark since Dec. 29 against Cleveland State and has two straight single-digit showings.

That will all change against the Fighting Illini. All the focus will be on Jaren Jackson Jr., Nick Ward and Miles Bridges, leaving Langford open on the wings for open threes and driving lanes.

The sophomore guard will start things off with a few mid-range jumpers and his confidence will grow from there. He’ll finish with 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting to go along with five rebounds. People forget that he’s an extremely underrated rebounded for a guard — especially on the offensive glass.

A nice bounce-back game will be in order.

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