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Michigan State Basketball: 5 bold predictions for dangerous Purdue battle

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN - JANUARY 08: Kenny Goins #25 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates after a second half timeout was called with Foster Loyer #3 while playing the Purdue Boilermakers at Breslin Center on January 08, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. Michigan State won the game 77-59. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN - JANUARY 08: Kenny Goins #25 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates after a second half timeout was called with Foster Loyer #3 while playing the Purdue Boilermakers at Breslin Center on January 08, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. Michigan State won the game 77-59. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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Michigan State basketball hits the road yet again to take on a tough Purdue squad Sunday. What can we expect from the green and white?

There’s one team standing between Michigan State and an impressive 10-0 start to conference play and the Purdue Boilermakers are up to the challenge.

Heck, Purdue wants revenge for a 77-59 loss in East Lansing just a couple of weeks ago. Since that defeat, Purdue has won four straight games and is just a few votes away from earning a spot in the AP Top 25. Can the Boilermakers pull off the big-time upset over the red-hot No. 6 Spartans of Michigan State?

This game is going to draw some major attention on Sunday afternoon and Tom Izzo has to make sure his team stays focused.

Can Michigan State overcome a tough stretch of four games in just over a week?

5. Thomas Kithier provides more solid minutes

Have you liked what you’ve seen from Thomas Kithier over the past two games? The freshman forward has provided quality minutes in the post, playing five minutes against Maryland and scoring four points with two rebounds and scoring six and grabbing five rebounds in nine minutes at Iowa. He’s 4-of-4 from the field during that stretch as well.

Well, we’re going to see more from the big man as Nick Ward and Xavier Tillman may find themselves in foul trouble against the likes of Matt Haarms and Trevion Williams — the latter broke out and gave Ward a tough battle last time out.

Kithier will break the 10-minute mark and scored another four points with six rebounds, making his mark off the bench.

If he can continue to provide solid minutes off the bench, Michigan State is going to be even scarier down the stretch until March rolls around.

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