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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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CHAMPAIGN, IL – FEBRUARY 05: Ayo Dosunmu #11 of the Illinois Fighting Illini and Kenny Goins #25 of the Michigan State Spartans chase down the ball during the first half of the game at State Farm Center on February 5, 2019 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL – FEBRUARY 05: Ayo Dosunmu #11 of the Illinois Fighting Illini and Kenny Goins #25 of the Michigan State Spartans chase down the ball during the first half of the game at State Farm Center on February 5, 2019 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

3. Spartans finish with less than 10 turnovers

Am I crazy? Probably, but I truly believe this team is capable of turning the ball over 10 times or less each time out. When they’re playing good, crisp basketball and moving the rock around with precision, this team can finish with somewhere around seven turnovers — it’s happened before.

Coming off their worst showing of the year with 24 turnovers against Illinois, you can bet Tom Izzo drilled that in practice, and the players knew it was bad. They didn’t look to put forth much of an effort on their passes and looked lazy. That will change.

We won’t see Cassius Winston turn the ball over nine times, Aaron Henry will play under control and Nick Ward won’t put the ball on the floor more than he has to. Michigan State is going to bounce back with a nine-turnover performance against the Golden Gophers, going the first five minutes of the game without coughing the rock up.

Is this what Michigan State needs to trend back in the right direction offensively? It sure feels that way as turnovers and rebounds were the main issue facing this team over the past three losses.

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