Michigan State Basketball: 5 bold predictions vs. Texas in Vegas Invitational

Michigan State basketball took care of UCLA in the Las Vegas Invitational opener, but what can we expect from the Spartans against Texas?

It’s been quite the past couple of weeks for Michigan State basketball. First, the Spartans were smacked by Kansas in the first half of the Champions Classic, then they pieced together a strong second-half comeback that fell just short and now they’re riding a four-game winning streak with each victory by at least 20 points.

Michigan State is coming off its best win of the year, an 87-67 thrashing of No. 17 UCLA while its next opponent, Texas (5-0), just took down North Carolina.

The title game of the Las Vegas Invitational will be one to watch, but the Spartans will look to remain hot as the calendar turns to December.

What can we expect from the Spartans versus Texas on Friday night?

5. Kerwin Roach II held in check after career game

There aren’t many players like Kerwin Roach II who Michigan State will face this season. He’s an athletic guard for the Longhorns and he’s coming off a career game against North Carolina where he dropped 32 points. He won’t have the same luck against the Spartans.

Though Cassius Winston isn’t the quickest defender, he’s been working on his on-ball defense against more athletic point guards.

Over the last few games, Winston’s, and the rest of the Spartans’, defense has been much more effective. In fact, the Spartans have kept UCLA under 70 points, Tennessee Tech to just 33 points and UL-Monroe to just 59. The Spartans have been locking down ever since the Kansas and FGCU contests.

Roach II won’t be able to find any easy shots against the Spartans and they’ll hold him in check as he finishes with just 11 points on 4-of-14 shooting.