Michigan State Basketball: 5 bold predictions for Week 16 Rutgers battle

EAST LANSING, MI - FEBRUARY 09: Matt McQuaid #20 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates his made basket with Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans in the second half at Breslin Center on February 9, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

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EAST LANSING, MI – FEBRUARY 17: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates from the sidelines during a game against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the second half at Breslin Center on February 17, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

2. Cassius Winston leads all scorers, makes five 3-pointers

Coming off his worst shooting performance of his junior season, Cassius Winston knows that’s something that just can’t continue against Rutgers, especially without Nick Ward in the lineup.

Winston went 3-for-15 from the floor and 1-for-7 from the floor and yet still finished with 13 points to go along with eight assists.

That offensive struggle will be a distant memory when he goes off against Rutgers for 22 points to go along with five 3-pointers. He’s going to make 5-of-8 from distance and shoot over 50 percent from the floor while going perfect from the charity stripe to lead all scorers.

Michigan State is going to need Winston to be on his game from this point on until Ward returns to the lineup because the Spartans just don’t have a clear No. 2 scorer anymore, unless you give that honor to Matt McQuaid.

Unfortunately, Winston will need to play about 35 minutes against the Scarlet Knights to reach these numbers.

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