Michigan State Basketball: 5 bold predictions for February 2018

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EAST LANSING, MI – JANUARY 19: Nick Ward #44 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates his made basket late in the second half during a game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Breslin Center on January 19, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

4. Nick Ward records five double-doubles in seven games

Through the first 24 games this season, Nick Ward has seven double-doubles. That’s not too shabby for the sophomore big man, but he’s going to finish the regular season even stronger, recording five in the final seven games to head into March with a total of 12.

The only thing truly stopping Ward from being a walking double-double is himself. Well, that and the fact that he hasn’t quite mastered the art of combatting double-teams. He will figure it out this month and be more of a threat on the offensive side of the ball. He was held under 10 points just three times before Jan. 1, but has since failed to reach that mark five more times.

February will be much kinder to Ward. He’s going to finish with five double-doubles, averaging around 15 points and 10 rebounds per game. Tom Izzo will work with him to get better at countering those doubles and he’s going to get deeper into the post and make defenses pay for trying to bring an extra defender with either a kick-out or a drawn foul.

Ward is starting to get 20-plus minutes on a regular basis as well and that’ll help him rebounding-wise — he has grabbed at least 10 boards in 7-of-11 games. The big man will play possessed in February.

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