Michigan State Basketball: 5 bold predictions for dangerous Purdue battle

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) /

4 of 5

LINCOLN, NE – JANUARY 17: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans attempts a shot over Isaac Copeland Jr. #14 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Pinnacle Bank Arena on January 17, 2019 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) /

2. Cassius Winston takes over again, scores 22

In six of the past nine games, Cassius Winston has broken the 20-point mark and he’ll make that 7-of-10 on Sunday afternoon with yet another Big Ten Player of the Year performance.

Winston will out-duel Carsen Edwards in his own building, scoring 22 points to go along with nine assists as the Spartan offense will feed off his energy. Usually the team goes as he does and that’ll be the case yet again as he’ll make more big second-half 3-pointers to give the Spartans a spark when the offense is a little stale.

Michigan State will find itself in a neck-and-neck battle with the Boilermakers and Winston’s consistent driving and scoring and 3-point daggers will give the Spartans a slight edge.

If there was ever any doubt whether Winston was the Big Ten Player of the Year before Sunday afternoon, it will be crushed with another eye-opening performance on the road.

There’s no one playing better than Winston this season in the conference and that’ll continue with a game-high 22 points. He’ll get help from Nick Ward who will approach 20 as well.

Home/Spartans Basketball