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Michigan State Basketball: 5 bold predictions for mammoth Nebraska battle

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MI - DECEMBER 3: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans drives to the basket against Glynn Watson Jr. #5 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Breslin Center on December 3, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - DECEMBER 3: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans drives to the basket against Glynn Watson Jr. #5 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Breslin Center on December 3, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
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LINCOLN, NE – NOVEMBER 11: James Palmer Jr. #0 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers drives past Moses Greenwood #13 of the Southeastern Louisiana Lionsduring their game at Pinnacle Bank Arena on November 11, 2018 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Eric Francis/Getty Images)
LINCOLN, NE – NOVEMBER 11: James Palmer Jr. #0 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers drives past Moses Greenwood #13 of the Southeastern Louisiana Lionsduring their game at Pinnacle Bank Arena on November 11, 2018 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Eric Francis/Getty Images) /

4. James Palmer Jr. held to just 10 points by Matt McQuaid

Matt McQuaid has been a blanket this season. He held the Big Ten’s leading scorer, Carsen Edwards, to just 11 points on 3-of-16 shooting just last week and he’s going to be tasked with stopping Nebraska’s leading scorer, James Palmer Jr., who averages 19 points per game.

While it may seem unlikely that he shuts down two of the Big Ten’s best in a short span, he’s going to do just that, with some help from guys off the bench who’ll give him short breaks  — likely when Palmer Jr. gets his, though.

Palmer Jr. can score from just about anywhere on the floor, but McQuaid is going to stick to him like glue. He seems to rise to the occasion when he’s facing off against future pros like Edwards and now Palmer Jr. so expect him to be motivated to get the job done — and he’s going to hit double-digit points on the offensive end.

The Spartans, namely McQuaid, will hold Palmer Jr. to just 10 points on 4-of-13 shooting and he’ll be as frustrated as Edwards was not too long ago.

Maybe this time the opposition will give him credit for being an elite defender.

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