Michigan State Basketball: 5 bold predictions vs. No. 1 Kansas

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

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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EAST LANSING, MI – JANUARY 4: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts during the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Breslin Center on January 4, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

4. Cassius Winston hits six 3-pointers

It took Cassius Winston a few games to really heat up last season, but that won’t be the case this year. After a rough game against No. 1 Duke in the Champions Classic in 2017-18, Winston went on a tear, becoming a deep threat for the Spartans — something they desperately needed in Big Ten play.

The junior point guard (then a sophomore) didn’t shy away from the big stage, either. While he struggled on the defensive side of the ball against more physical and athletic point guards, he was able to keep the Spartans in the game from an offensive standpoint.

In fact, he made four 3-pointers against Connecticut, five against Notre Dame and played well in the PK80 title game against North Carolina even if he wasn’t scoring at a high clip.

Winston has become the ultimate 3-point threat at the point guard position and he’ll do something against Kansas in the national spotlight that he’s only done once before in his career — hit six 3-pointers.

The Jayhawks won’t have an answer for him at the point guard position, though Quentin Grimes will have a solid first collegiate game at the two-guard to keep pace.

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