Michigan State Basketball: 5 bold predictions for Iowa battle in Week 5

PISCATAWAY, NJ - NOVEMBER 30: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans drives to the basket as Caleb McConnell #22 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights defends during the second half of a college basketball game at the Rutgers Athletic Center on November 30, 2018 in Piscataway, New Jersey. Michigan State defeated Rutgers 78-67. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images,) /

3 of 5

EAST LANSING, MI – NOVEMBER 11: Nick Ward #44 of the Michigan State Spartans smiles during a game against the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles in the second half at Breslin Center on November 11, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

3. Nick Ward leads all scorers with 25 points, adds 10 boards

Nick Ward has had himself quite the season thus far. If it weren’t for his early departure against UL-Monroe a couple of weeks ago when he scored just five points in a few minutes before an ankle injury, his points per game average would likely be well over 15 instead of the current 14.6.

Still, you can’t be mad at a kid for putting up his best career offensive numbers, though his shooting percentage has dipped — it’s not wild to see his percentage drop from an abnormally-high 65 percent a year ago — but he’s still making 58 percent.

Iowa will present an interesting matchup as Tyler Cook is the only big the Hawkeyes have that truly can keep up with Ward’s size. He will get into some foul trouble, though, as Ward has done an excellent job of drawing contact and that will force some mismatches for a good portion of the game and the junior will take advantage.

Expect a big game — his second in a row — from the Gahanna, Ohio, native as he finishes with a game-high 25 points and he finally cracks the double-digit mark in the rebounding column again with 10 boards.

Home/Spartans Basketball