Michigan State Basketball: 5 bold predictions vs. Louisville in Week 4

Michigan State basketball has a crucial matchup approaching against Louisville for the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. What can we expect?

Looking to help the Big Ten win the annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge, the Spartans will get one of the tougher tasks of going on the road to face the new-look Louisville Cardinals.

Chris Mack, former Xavier head coach, is now at the helm for the Cardinals and there’s a new feeling around town that things are looking up. A turnaround from the Rick Pitino mess isn’t going to be easy, but Mack turned Xavier into a powerhouse over the years.

Michigan State will look to win its sixth straight game and improve to 6-1 after a Kansas loss to open the season while handing Louisville its third straight defeat.

Let’s get bold ahead of Tuesday’s Michigan State vs. Louisville game.

5. Two bench players score in double figures

The Spartans’ bench has been one of the brightest spots on the team this year. After losing two lottery picks in Miles Bridges and Jaren Jackson Jr., the depth didn’t look to be a strength for the Spartans.

Yet it has.

Michigan State has guys like Xavier Tillman, Marcus Bingham Jr., Aaron Henry, Foster Loyer, Thomas Kithier, Gabe Brown and Kyle Ahrens coming off the bench, playing valuable minutes, though that rotation will likely be trimmed by the time Big Ten play starts up — in January, not the first two tease games.

Against Louisville, the Spartans will need a spark off the bench and they’ll get double-digit games from two guys. My bet would be Tillman, who has had a rough season thus far and is in desperate need of a pick-me-up, and either Bingham Jr. or Ahrens. The latter two have sharpshooting capabilities and I think that’ll contribute to a double-digit scoring effort.

Two off the Michigan State bench will score in double figures on Tuesday night.