Michigan State Basketball: Final score predictions vs. Wisconsin in finale
Michigan State basketball is set to face off with Wisconsin in the regular season finale, but can the Spartans take down the suddenly-hot Badgers?
Here we are again, talking about another off-court distraction which has clouded the past month and a half of Spartan basketball. Michigan State has been named in a report by Yahoo! Sports which included details of $400 Miles Bridges’ mom allegedly received from an agent.
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The NCAA has cleared Bridges to play on Sunday, though, after an internal investigation by Michigan State’s compliance committee. That’s great news for the Spartans who are facing off against a team that has won three straight and 4-of-5.
Michigan State’s matchup with Wisconsin will take place Sunday at 1 p.m. ET on CBS.
Connor Muldowney: Could this season’s off-court distractions be any more deafening for the young Spartans? Probably not, but the team has handled them well, winning 11 straight games. Wisconsin might be hot all of a sudden, but the Spartans won’t be nervous heading into yet another hostile environment. The game will be close for a majority of the first 25-30 minutes, but Michigan State will pull away thanks to solid play on both ends by Jaren Jackson Jr. and big shots by Miles Bridges.
Final Score: Michigan State 73, Wisconsin 61
Michael Briggs: Another week, another Michigan State controversy. How will the latest scandal affect the Spartans? Unlike the previous, this one clearly impacts the current group. Will MSU be inspired or broken by the Yahoo! report? We’ll get our answer Sunday in the regular season finale.
Final Score: Michigan State 71, Wisconsin 65
Adam Zdroik: Wisconsin is suddenly on a winning streak of three straight with one of those being against Purdue. This isn’t a free win for Michigan State as seen in its last road trip to Northwestern. That said, the Badgers are outmatched at every position and Nick Ward and Jaren Jackson combined for nine blocks against Ethan Happ in the previous meeting. If Happ gets locked down, the Badgers will struggle.
Final Score: Michigan State 66, Wisconsin 60
Stephen Robb: This Wisconsin team has been red-hot despite a loss to Michigan. Ethan Happ has been paving the way and it looks like the Spartans are for tough one. This is the type of game that defines a season for teams. Will MSU play at its best or will it let a Badger team that they should beat hang around and sneak out a win? In a season with distractions and poor play, this squad has been playing great basketball as of late. It’ll be a close game with the Spartans winning.
Final Score: Michigan State 62, Wisconsin 59
Cory Linsner: Wisconsin looks like a team that’s finally hitting its stride, and finding a new life in this season. True freshman Brad Davison is starting to grow into his potential of being a top point guard in the Big Ten. A point guard like that paired with standout forward Ethan Happ is a scary sight.
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On the other side of the court, Michigan State is faced with another mental hurdle amid the FBI probe report that came out on Friday. As we’ve seen before, they can overcome these obstacles, but sooner or later it’s going to bite them. The season finale may be that day, facing a Wisconsin team clicking on all cylinders, and distractions all around the Spartans are in for a dog fight. This team, though, there’s something about them and they always know how to beat the odds. Spartans prevail in a tight one in a crazy Kohl Center on senior day.
FInal Score: Michigan State 66, Wisconsin 62