Michigan State Basketball: Staff score predictions vs. No. 1 Kansas
Michigan State basketball opens the 2018-19 season with a shot at upsetting No. 1 Kansas in the Champions Classic. Who comes out on top?
The college basketball world will be tuning in to the Champions Classic on Tuesday night as the season tips off in primetime with Michigan State vs. Kansas and Duke vs. Kentucky. The former contest will take place at 7 p.m. ET in Indianapolis, Ind., followed by the top-five matchup between the Blue Devils and Wildcats.
Michigan State, ranked No. 10, will have a chance to pull off the upset of No. 1 Kansas in the opener, but it’ll take an A+ effort.
Tom Izzo knows his team may not be quite as talented as it was a season ago, but the experience could more than make up for that. This game will be one to watch for as either team could come out on top.
Will the Spartans be able to upset No. 1 Kansas? See what our writers think.
Connor Muldowney: Bill Self and Kansas present a tough matchup for the Spartans, but this is one of those games that may be decided by experience and continuity. The Spartans will run out an 8-9 man rotation and the Jayhawks will be trying to figure out their best combos. Kansas’ rotations will be in limbo as it figures things out, giving the Spartans a slight advantage as they swoop in to steal a win in the Champions Classic, putting the nation on notice. Cassius Winston has a big game from 3-point range and Josh Langford will lead all scorers.
Final Score: Michigan State 73, Kansas 71
Ryan Kay: This game may be the most interesting season opener that the Spartans have had in a while. Many Michigan State fans have been so focused on the ups and down of the football team this season that they may not have been paying close attention to the basketball team and the expectations that the fans have for them. Cassius Winston, Joshua Langford, and Nick Ward all as juniors will look to come out of the gate and get a victory versus the No. 1 ranked Jayhawks.
Seniors Matt McQuaid and Kenny Goins may end up starting versus the Jayhawks as Tom Izzo looks to use experience as a benefit against a Kansas team filled with transfers, freshman, and veterans.
Kansas may be the most talented and have the best blend of youth and experience out of any team in the country. However, with the mix of three highly thought after transfers, three very talented and high rated freshmen, and two veterans in Lagerald Vick and Udoka Azubuike who any coach in American would want in their starting lineup, the Jayhawks have a very good chance to win a national title.
The biggest question though will be can Kansas with the new blend of players be able to work together effectively against the veteran team in the Spartans? The answer is no, the Jayhawks in November will not be the same team in March, thus the Spartans will find a way as they did in 2012 and 2015 to win their third straight Championship Classic victory against the Jayhawks in a close hard fought victory.
Final Score: Michigan State 81, Kansas 77
Next. Top 25 MSU football players of Mark Dantonio era. dark
Stephen Robb: Kansas is a program that other programs measure themselves against. On Tuesday night MSU has the opportunity to see how far it’s come this offseason. Kansas has incoming transfer from Memphis Dedric Lawson who is a force. His brother KJ also transferred. This will be a close game at the half with Kansas pulling away late.
Final Score: Michigan State 61, Kansas 65