Michigan State Basketball: 5 reasons Spartans will beat red-hot Nebraska

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EAST LANSING, MI – NOVEMBER 11: Decardo Day #0 of the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles drives to the basket while defended by Matt McQuaid #20 of the Michigan State Spartans in the second half at Breslin Center on November 11, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

4. Matt McQuaid will shut down James Palmer Jr.

There may not be a player in the Big Ten who has improved as much on both ends of the floor as Matt McQuaid. The senior captain from Texas has gone from presumed sharpshooter to a lockdown defender who can also score.

Carsen Edwards of Purdue found that out the hard way.

In fact, the senior locked the Big Ten’s top scorer down just last week, holding him to 11 points on 3-of-16 shooting and forcing him into the most frustrating output of his season. He gave McQuaid half-credit after the game, but his defensive showing was a major elephant in the room.

That toughness on the defensive end and ability to stick with even the most slippery of offensive threats is what makes him so valuable and he’s going to be tasked with slowing James Palmer Jr. down on Thursday night — and that’s another advantage for the Spartans.

If McQuaid can slow down Edwards who is arguably quicker and more explosive than Palmer Jr. on the offensive end, he should be able to do the same to the Cornhuskers’ leading scorer.

McQuaid will once again be lauded for his defensive effort and he’s starting to develop a reputation.

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