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Michigan State Basketball: 5 bold predictions for Final Four battle vs. Texas Tech

By Connor Muldowney

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 31: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates with his teammates after a basket against the Duke Blue Devils during the first half in the East Regional game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 31, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 31: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates with his teammates after a basket against the Duke Blue Devils during the first half in the East Regional game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 31, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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Texas Tech presents one tough battle for Michigan State basketball on Saturday night. Can Tom Izzo and the Spartans escape with another big win?

Tom Izzo needs the validation. His Michigan State basketball program has won a national title and has now made eight Final Fours under his reign, but he’s not satisfied.

No Hall of Fame coach would be.

But there’s a chance he could earn that second national title with a couple of wins this coming weekend and Monday night. It all starts with a late Saturday night game against a Texas Tech team that has been a headache for each of its opponents.

Michigan State will look to keep the dream alive against the top defense in college basketball on Saturday night.

5. Defense locks down Jarrett Culver

Jarrett Culver is an interesting story. He didn’t come to Texas Tech as the highest rated recruit, actually listed in the 300-range as a three-star. He wasn’t offered by the biggest programs, but the 6-foot-5 athletic combo guard should have gotten more attention.

Through two years at Texas Tech, Culver has been an All-Big 12 performer and a second-team All-American. He has the look of a future star in the NBA and is projected as a lottery pick.

But Michigan State has one goal in mind: stop Culver.

Culver’s shooting touch hasn’t been great thus far in the tourney, but he’s still found a way to score in bunches. Michigan State is going to hold him to his lowest total in the Big Dance yet: 15 points.

It won’t be easy, but the Spartans have two lockdown defenders on the perimeter who can square him up in Aaron Henry and Matt McQuaid and they’ll do their job to perfection.

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