Michigan State Basketball: 5 bold predictions for Elite 8 battle with Duke

Michigan State Basketball: 5 bold predictions for Elite Eight battle with Duke

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 29: Gabe Brown #13 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates a three point basket against the LSU Tigers during the first half in the East Regional game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

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WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 29: Nick Ward #44 of the Michigan State Spartans shoots the ball against Naz Reid #0 of the LSU Tigers during the first half in the East Regional game of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

4. Nick Ward bounces back

When Nick Ward hit the floor hard after an aggressive box out — which was later called a flagrant foul — by Naz Reid, everyone’s worst nightmares creeped to the surface.

This was it, Ward would be out for the rest of the tournament, right? He was laying on the ground with a grimace on his face, holding his injured left hand in pain. The big man was feared to have re-broken that surgically-repaired hand after a hairline fracture over a month ago and Michigan State’s title hopes were smashed.

Minutes later, Ward walked out of the locker room where he was X-rayed and the news was that it was only a bone bruise and he was cleared to return. Although he didn’t make it back to the floor, the news was a major dodged bullet by the Spartans.

The junior big man hasn’t had a double-digit scoring effort since returning from that injury, but that’ll all change against Duke.

I predicted he’d score 15 points against LSU, but he didn’t quite get there with four points in 16 minutes, but he’ll reach double figures in the scoring column against the Blue Devils with 11 points and six rebounds in 20 minutes.

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