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Michigan State Basketball: 5 bold predictions vs. Kansas in Champions Classic

By Connor Muldowney

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 03: Matt McQuaid #20 and Joshua Langford #1 of the Michigan State Spartans react following their 75-64 loss to the Michigan Wolverines during semifinals of the Big 10 Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 3, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 03: Matt McQuaid #20 and Joshua Langford #1 of the Michigan State Spartans react following their 75-64 loss to the Michigan Wolverines during semifinals of the Big 10 Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 3, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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Michigan State basketball opens the season with a tough matchup against the No. 1 ranked team in the land, Kansas. How will it play out?

Starting the season strong is every coach’s dream, but Tom Izzo knows that even the bumpiest November/December paths could lead to deep runs in March, and they have for him and Michigan State basketball in the past.

However, he also values the early-season wins over ranked teams to get his guys prepped and ready for conference play. Michigan State will get a chance to flex its muscle on day one of the season with a tipoff at 7 p.m. ET in the annual Champions Classic against No. 1 Kansas.

The Jayhawks and Spartans have had some solid matchups in years past, but Bill Self and Kansas got the last laugh in the 2017 NCAA Tournament with Josh Jackson and Co. downing a young Michigan State team. Things are switched around this year as the Spartans have experience, but the Jayhawks are still No. 1.

Can Michigan State pull off the early-season upset?

5. Spartans out-rebound Jayhawks by at least 10

A year ago, Kansas ranked just 180th in the country and sixth in the Big 12 in rebounding margin at plus-0.4 while Michigan State was plus-10.7 which was first nationally. While many are concerned with the post play heading into this one, especially with the Spartans losing so much down low, Michigan State will continue that dominance.

Tom Izzo-coached teams are always solid on the glass, and that won’t change with Nick Ward running the show and Xavier Tillman coming off the bench.

Kenny Goins can eat some boards as well despite being undersized as a power forward and even the guards are aggressive on the glass — Josh Langford is a prime example.

Though Udoka Azubuike presents a tough challenge down low, along with Dedric Lawson, the Spartans will control the glass and out-rebound the Jayhawks by at least 10.

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