Michigan State Basketball: Staff score predictions vs. Louisville in Week 4
Louisville will host Michigan State basketball in the 2018 Big Ten/ACC Challenge on Tuesday night. What does the staff have to say about the matchup?
Winners of five straight games, including a ranked win over UCLA and a Texas team that is now ranked No. 17 in the country, Michigan State has been playing its best basketball of the season in the past week.
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However, the Spartans must travel to Louisville and pick off a 3-2 Cardinals team if they want to improve to 6-1 on the season and aid the conference in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.
Despite the two straight losses, the Spartans know that a road win at Louisville isn’t a given. Our staff, too, knows this fact as they provide their score predictions — along with a guest score prediction from a Louisville expert.
Connor Muldowney: Winning at Louisville isn’t an easy task. This is going to be a back-and-forth affair which will be knotted up at 70-70 with just under three minutes left until a struggling Matt McQuaid hits a big 3-pointer to take the lead. A couple minutes later, he’ll make another to put the game effectively away. Josh Langford will have yet another big game and Nick Ward will dominate a Louisville post which has struggled with foul trouble all season.
Final Score: Michigan State 80, Louisville 73
Stephen Robb: The Louisville basketball program is attempting to move on from the Rick Pitino era. Chris Mack is now the head coach, the former Xavier head man, as he has a new seven-year contract. He may need all seven years to build the program up. Louisville has struggled against tougher opponents losing to both Marquette and Tennessee. Louisville’s sophomore forward Jordan Nwora is the player to watch he averages over 18 points. MSU should be able to win this game.
Final Score: Michigan State 78, Louisville 71
Ryan Kay: Michigan State has been playing well and winning the Las Vegas Invitational with wins over UCLA and Texas has given this team the confidence. This will be the Spartans first true road game as they compete in the annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge. The Cardinals are 3-2 but their two losses especially the one versus No. 5 Tennessee is understandable and they should not be overlooked as an easy win. In Louisville’s last game, it lost by three to Marquette.
New coach Chris Mack has the Cardinals moving in the right direction and they will be well prepared for the Spartans. However, Michigan State and Tom Izzo will be ready as well and Cassius Winston and Nick Ward are up for the challenge and look to exploit the weaknesses of Louisville.
However, the Cardinals with a new coach looks like a different team from last season, much of that is due in part to them having six players who are transfers. They are a veteran team with four out of their five starters being juniors. They have some height up front with 6-10 center and Connecticut-transfer Steven Enoch.
With the blend of veterans and transfers, Mack’s play 10 players significant minutes. Their bench is lead by sophomore guard Dustin Perry and he has been a consistent offensive spark off of the bench. Louisville is a quality team but they still need time to play together with all of the transfers and need time learn the system implemented under Mack. Michigan State possibly playing in front of 22,000 Cardinal fans may be adjustment that the Spartans may struggle with early.
Though with the emergence of Joshua Langford to go along with the duo of Winston and Ward will be too much for Louisville to overcome. Expect a close game but the role players of Kenny Goins, Matthew McQuaid and Kyle Ahrens will be the difference in this game.
Final Score: Michigan State 89, Louisville 82
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Jacob Lane (Big Red Louie site expert): I’d like to think that coming off back-to-back heart breaking losses that the Cards would be focused in and ready to finally get their first big win, but I am not naive. I know that Rome was not built in a day. The Spartans are a tough team with a lot of playmakers and smart, tested players. I think Michigan State wins an extremely competitive game.
Final Score: Michigan State 82, Louisville 74