Michigan State Basketball: Game-by-game predictions for February 2019

EAST LANSING, MI - JANUARY 02: Nick Ward #44 of the Michigan State Spartans handles the ball while defended by Barret Benson #25 of the Northwestern Wildcats in the first half at Breslin Center on January 2, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

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WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 10: Nick Ward #44 of the Michigan State Spartans pulls in a rebound against Jordan Murphy #3 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers during the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at Verizon Center on March 10, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

Minnesota has had a fairly weird season. The Golden Gophers began the year 12-2 and looked like they were on the verge of making an appearance in the AP Top 25, but then the mid-season blues hit — just like they do every year under Richard Pitino.

Since that hot start, Minnesota is just 4-3 and it even has a 27-point loss at Illinois to its name. That’s not exactly something you want on the resume if you’re looking to make the NCAA Tournament. The Gophers have since exacted revenge on Illinois, but they don’t look like anything more than a slightly above average Big Ten team — though they nearly upset Michigan.

Still, this isn’t a game to overlook. Michigan State will be riding a two-game winning streak after beating Indiana and Illinois handily and the Gophers will catch the Spartans off guard.

Jordan Murphy will have a big game in the post, getting Nick Ward into foul trouble with his aggressive play and Amir Coffey will make some shots to keep this one close.

Michigan State will find a way to win thanks to some clutch Cassius Winston shots down the stretch, but it’s not going to be a clean victory.

Prediction: Minnesota 63, Michigan State 72 (21-3, 12-1)

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