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Michigan State Basketball: 5 bold predictions for top-10 matchup with Michigan

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MI - JANUARY 13: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans reacts to a play during a game against the Michigan Wolverines at Breslin Center on January 13, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - JANUARY 13: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans reacts to a play during a game against the Michigan Wolverines at Breslin Center on January 13, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
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Michigan State basketball is hoping to end the three-game losing streak against Michigan but it’ll need some good fortune on Sunday afternoon.

The day has finally come. Hate week as come to an end and that means it’s time for Michigan vs. Michigan State basketball. The Spartans and the Wolverines will square off in Ann Arbor on Sunday afternoon and you know Crisler Arena will be rocking.

Michigan State is aiming to end the Wolverines’ three-game winning streak and Michigan is looking to defend home court for a second straight time.

The last time these two teams met in Ann Arbor, the Wolverines blew the doors off the Spartans with an 86-57 thumping that shocked the green and white. We probably shouldn’t expect that same outcome, but Michigan is playing well and the Spartans are ailing.

It’s time to be bold ahead of Sunday’s top-10 matchup between fierce rivals.

5. Xavier Tillman records second straight double-double

Recording his third double-double on the season in a comeback effort against Rutgers, Xavier Tillman showed that he can, in fact, play well in Nick Ward’s place.

Tillman did struggle early against Rutgers’ bigs, missing some bunnies in the paint and getting called for silly fouls on the defensive end, but he got more comfortable as the game went on and finished strong. He had a career-high 19 rebounds to go along with 10 boards and he’ll carry that momentum into the Michigan matchup.

The sophomore big man may not be a go-to scorer in the paint like Ward is, but the Spartans won’t need a ton of that against a smaller Michigan team. The Wolverines play smaller than most, but Jon Teske will likely be matched up with Tillman.

Expect Tillman to get him into some early foul trouble and then he’ll take advantage of other matchups and finish with yet another double-double — his second straight and fourth on the year.

Let’s go with 14 points and 11 rebounds.

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