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Michigan State Basketball: 5 bold predictions for critical Illinois battle

By Connor Muldowney

CHAMPAIGN, IL - JANUARY 22: Xavier Tillman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans looks for a call during the game against the Illinois Fighting Illini at State Farm Center on January 22, 2018 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - JANUARY 22: Xavier Tillman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans looks for a call during the game against the Illinois Fighting Illini at State Farm Center on January 22, 2018 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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LINCOLN, NE – JANUARY 17: Matt McQuaid #20 of the Michigan State Spartans drives against Glynn Watson Jr. #5 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Pinnacle Bank Arena on January 17, 2019 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)
LINCOLN, NE – JANUARY 17: Matt McQuaid #20 of the Michigan State Spartans drives against Glynn Watson Jr. #5 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Pinnacle Bank Arena on January 17, 2019 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) /

4. Matt McQuaid comes up clutch with five 3-pointers

Tom Izzo wasn’t too pleased with the fact that Matt McQuaid shot the ball just three times in a home loss to Indiana, and you can bet he let his senior captain know it at practice over the last couple of days.

Michigan State needed a spark on offense and McQuaid disappeared, looking like he didn’t want any part of the ball on that end of the floor. He did a solid job against Romeo Langford, for the most part, and prides himself on his defense, but he needs to be more of a shooter if the Spartans are going to have any success.

Hearing Izzo’s words following the loss to the Hoosiers, McQuaid will use it as fuel — like Cassius Winston did a few weeks ago when Izzo said he played his worst game of the season. The senior guard will have one of his best games of the year, helping the Spartans get out to an early lead and making some clutch shots down the stretch.

McQuaid will have no trouble finding his shot and he will early and often, finishing with five threes and scoring 17 points on the night. This is the kind of production Michigan State is going to need from McQuaid now that Josh Langford is out for the year.

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