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Michigan State basketball: Previewing 3 key 2019-20 non-conference games

By Nate Rhoades

DES MOINES, IOWA - MARCH 23: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans reacts against the Minnesota Golden Gophers during the second half in the second round game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena on March 23, 2019 in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
DES MOINES, IOWA - MARCH 23: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans reacts against the Minnesota Golden Gophers during the second half in the second round game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena on March 23, 2019 in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – MARCH 17: Aaron Henry #11 of the Michigan State Spartans attempts a shot in the first half against the Michigan Wolverines during the championship game of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 17, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – MARCH 17: Aaron Henry #11 of the Michigan State Spartans attempts a shot in the first half against the Michigan Wolverines during the championship game of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 17, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

Kentucky Wildcats (Nov. 5)

The Spartans and the Wildcats will tip off the season in the ninth annual Champions Classic. If the AP Top 25 stays as it is in the way-too-early predictions, then Michigan State will be ranked No. 1 while Kentucky will be right underneath them at No. 3.

These two teams have seen each other twice in this event and have split them. Michigan State will likely be the favorite in the game as it returns Cassius Winston, Xavier Tillman and Aaron Henry. The Spartans also get a healthy Josh Langford back after a season ending ankle injury last year. They also will have a highly-rated freshman in combo-guard Rocket Watts as well.

Even with the stacked MSU team has this season, it will still have its hands full playing against Kentucky.

The Wildcats added three five-star recruits to give them high energy. Tyrese Maxey can be the point or he can play off the ball really well. He is a great scorer who is not afraid to have the ball in his hands and his play will complement both Ashton Hagans and Immanuel Quickley nicely.

Hagans is a tremendous ball handler while Quickley can score a bucket anytime he wants. Kentucky will need to have their forwards bulk up a little bit as they are a bit thin on the interior as of now.

A couple of things are going to help the Spartans in this game and one will be the size advantage they have on the Wildcats. They should be able to out-rebound and out-tough the Wildcats. Also, the experience of the players they will have on the floor is a major advantage. The Spartans only have three players who do not have in-game college experience while Kentucky has only one grad transfer and the rest are freshmen or sophomores.

The experience could play a major factor in this one.

Outcome: MSU wins by 10

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