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Michigan State basketball faces first Nick Ward-less test vs. Rutgers

By Connor Muldowney

PISCATAWAY, NJ - NOVEMBER 30: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans drives to the basket as Caleb McConnell #22 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights defends during the second half of a college basketball game at the Rutgers Athletic Center on November 30, 2018 in Piscataway, New Jersey. Michigan State defeated Rutgers 78-67. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images,)
PISCATAWAY, NJ - NOVEMBER 30: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans drives to the basket as Caleb McConnell #22 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights defends during the second half of a college basketball game at the Rutgers Athletic Center on November 30, 2018 in Piscataway, New Jersey. Michigan State defeated Rutgers 78-67. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images,) /
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Can Michigan State basketball pass its first true test after losing Nick Ward with a hand fracture? It’ll find out Wednesday against Rutgers.

What a roller-coaster of emotions the 2018-19 season has been for Michigan State thus far. One minute the Spartans are dominating everyone in their path and the next Josh Langford and Nick Ward suffer serious injuries, the latter being ruled out indefinitely, hoping to return by the end of the season.

The first game without Ward will be telling for Michigan State (21-5, 12-3 Big Ten). Will they be able to manage without one of the best big men in the conference? They sure looked fine without him in the second half against Ohio State, out-scoring the Buckeyes 37-13.

Rutgers (12-13, 5-10) comes to town on Wednesday evening looking for that big-time upset which would end the Spartans’ three-game winning streak. The Scarlet Knights have lost four of five after piecing together their first three-game winning streak in Big Ten play.

The Scarlet Knights are an impressive rebounding team and a guy like Eugene Omoruyi could dominate with Ward sidelined.

Here’s how you can watch Wednesday night’s game versus Rutgers:

Date: Wednesday, Feb. 20
Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
Location: East Lansing, Mich.
Venue: Breslin Center
TV: Big Ten Network
Live Stream: BTN2Go or FuboTV

Keys to Victory

Getting good minutes out of Thomas Kithier and even Marcus Bingham Jr. in the post will be crucial, especially if the Spartans are going to lean on those freshmen throughout the remainder of the regular season. The two freshmen need not be overwhelmed with big minutes and Kithier has already shown he can play 15-20 in any given game. Bingham Jr. needs to show up and prove that he can hang.

Without Ward, winning the rebounding battle will be imperative. Xavier Tillman is the kind of guy who can pick up 10 boards as well as Kenny Goins, but the Scarlet Knights average about 40 rebounds per game. Michigan State needs to win the battle on the boards and keep the Scarlet Knights off the offensive glass and limit those second-chance points. Rebounding and running will be the No. 1 key.

Players to Watch

Rutgers has a couple of guys who could exploit the Ward-less Spartans, led by Omoruyi, but there are perimeter players to keep an eye on as well. Don’t sleep on the 3-point defense just because the Scarlet Knights don’t shoot it well from distance.

  • Eugene Omoruyi: 13.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, 45% FG shooting, 34% 3-point shooting
  • Geo Baker: 13.0 points, 4.0 assists, 35% 3-point shooting

Next. MSU basketball: Game-by-game predictions for February. dark

Prediction

Though the news of losing Ward is going to hurt this team, they won’t take it as harshly as the Langford injury because there’s a chance the junior big man will be back by the end of the year — potentially even before the conference tourney. That means we will see an energized team playing like nothing happened and Tillman will have one of his best games as a Spartan with Kithier and Bingham Jr. providing quality minutes off the bench. The Spartans avoid a letdown.

Final Score: Rutgers 57, Michigan State 70

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