Michigan State Basketball: 5 bold predictions vs. Iowa in Week 14

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EAST LANSING, MI – JANUARY 26: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans talks to Nick Ward #44 of the Michigan State Spartans during a game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Breslin Center on January 26, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

4. Nick Ward finishes with a double-double

OK, I get it. This isn’t all that bold, but with the way Nick Ward has been playing lately, a double-double seems out of the question. He has failed to break 10 points in four games, dating back to Jan. 26 against Wisconsin when he had 12.

Ward is probably going through the worst stretch of performances of his young career, scoring in double figures just four times since Jan. 1 — a 10-game span.

Iowa will be a welcomed sight for the big sophomore. Last year against the Hawkeyes, he scored 14 points in just 16 minutes and was aggressive in his limited floor time. He’s going to finish with 23 minutes in this one and will put together a 17-point, 13-rebound showing at Carver-Hawkeye.

This will be the type of performance Ward will need heading into the final stretch of regular season games. His confidence may be waning and he’ll be able to fight through double-teams to make Iowa hurt on Tuesday night.

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