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Michigan State Basketball: 5 bold predictions for November 2018

By Connor Muldowney

DETROIT, MI - MARCH 16: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans coaches against the Bucknell Bison during the first half in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Little Caesars Arena on March 16, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - MARCH 16: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans coaches against the Bucknell Bison during the first half in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Little Caesars Arena on March 16, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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The 2018-19 Michigan State basketball season is upon us and it’s time to be bold ahead of the first month of action. Will the Spartans upset No. 1?

Can you believe it’s already Michigan State basketball season? Sure, the football team just won its sixth game and is bowl eligible with a big game against Ohio State approaching.

Tom Izzo and the Spartans will be opening the season on Tuesday evening with a big game against No. 1 Kansas. The Jayhawks have plenty of talent, but the Spartans could pull off the upset in the annual Champions Classic.

Michigan State returns plenty of talent, led by Nick Ward, Josh Langford and Cassius Winston. Add in Xavier Tillman, Kenny Goins, Matt McQuaid, a healthy Kyle Ahrens and an impressive freshman class and you have one of the best teams in the nation.

What’ll happen in the first month of action?

5. Spartans will be red-hot from 3-point range

When you think of some of the best shooting teams of the Tom Izzo era, the Denzel Valentine-Bryn Forbes team has to come to mind. Those two were money from distance and didn’t seem to miss an open shot all year long — of course until Middle Tennessee, but we won’t talk about that.

Last year’s team, too, was one of the better shooting teams, but it didn’t get quite enough credit because it was an all-around solid squad with great post play and solid shooters. They finished the season with a 40 percent rate from 3-point range, which is almost unheard of for an entire season.

Michigan State returns some sharpshooters this season such as Cassius Winston, Josh Langford and Matt McQuaid while Kyle Ahrens is finally healthy. Gabe Brown, Marcus Bingham Jr. and Foster Loyer can also hit the long-range jumper, making the Spartans a tough team to defend from distance.

The Spartans will finish the month red-hot from 3-point range, making about 45 percent of their shots from distance. Not too shabby, but it’s a rate that won’t be sustained throughout the Big Ten season.

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