Michigan State Basketball: 5 bold predictions for battle with Wisconsin

Michigan State Basketball: 5 bold predictions for battle with No. 20 Wisconsin

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 02: Nick Ward #44 of the Michigan State Spartans and Ethan Happ #22 of the Wisconsin Badgers fight for the rebound during quarterfinals of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 2, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

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EAST LANSING, MI – DECEMBER 03: Thomas Kithier #15 of the Michigan State Spartans shoots the ball over Ryan Kriener #15 of the Iowa Hawkeyes in the first half at Breslin Center on December 3, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

4. Thomas Kithier forced into big minutes, scores career-high 10 points

Ethan Happ has a tendency to get more of the calls than are called against him and I think that happens again on Tuesday as Nick Ward and Xavier Tillman will get into some foul trouble, forcing Thomas Kithier into the action. Will Kither match up with Happ? That’s a major question mark, but he will see action and maybe Kenny Goins will play a bit on Happ — if healthy.

Either way, we are going to see plenty of the true freshman forward who missed his entire senior year of high school ball due to a transfer controversy.

Tom Izzo admitted during his press conference on Monday that Kithier’s progression has shocked just about everyone because of the fact he didn’t play last year. He’s further along than most people expected and he could be the most ready of any freshman.

Kithier has averaged just 4.4 minutes per game this season, but he’s coming off an 18-minute outing against Minnesota where he scored just eight points with three boards.

Expect a career night from the freshman as he’ll score 10 points with five boards.

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