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Michigan State Basketball: 5 bold predictions for critical Minnesota battle

By Connor Muldowney

WEST LAFAYETTE, IN - JANUARY 27: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans shoots the ball over Grady Eifert #24 of the Purdue Boilermakers at Mackey Arena on January 27, 2019 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
WEST LAFAYETTE, IN - JANUARY 27: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans shoots the ball over Grady Eifert #24 of the Purdue Boilermakers at Mackey Arena on January 27, 2019 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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Michigan State basketball is looking for a rebound against Minnesota to end a three-game losing skid, but will that come on Saturday?

Tom Izzo is searching for answers. What made this team go from top of the Big Ten with no worries in the world to a three-game losing streak with a make-or-break battle against Minnesota at home looming? Michigan State needs to find its identity again.

The Spartans have been turning the ball over, playing lazy and sloppy and allowing teams to win the rebounding battle over the past three games which has led to quite the drought.

Will that continue against Minnesota? We will find out just what the Spartans are made of on Saturday afternoon in East Lansing.

Let’s get bold, folks.

5. Spartans make 50 percent of their 3-pointers

When Josh Langford was officially ruled out for the year, it took a mental toll on this team, but even before that his absence had a negative effect on the Spartans. His loss meant a decrease in 3-point shooting efficiency. The Spartans lost a scorer and the perimeter game wasn’t nearly as strong.

With the injury, Langford took with him shooting prowess but that leaves Matt McQuaid, Cassius Winston, Kyle Ahrens, Gabe Brown and even Kenny Goins to pick up the slack. We will even see some Foster Loyer sharp-shooting in limited action on Saturday afternoon.

Michigan State will shoot about 20-22 shots from 3-point range and make at least 10, making about 50 percent of their shots from distance. This should be enough to make Minnesota’s afternoon miserable in East Lansing.

McQuaid will step up along with Winston to hit a combined eight threes while Goins, Ahrens and Brown will all make one. Bonus time: Loyer adds a three to put MSU over 50 percent from long distance.

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