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Michigan State Basketball: 10 bold predictions for 2019-20 season

By Connor Muldowney

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 31: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans is defended by Tre Jones #3 of 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 Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 31: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans is defended by Tre Jones #3 of 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 Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – MARCH 17: Xavier Tillman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts in the second 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: Xavier Tillman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts in the second 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) /

6. Spartans sweep Michigan again

The year before last, Michigan swept Michigan State’s loaded roster, led by Miles Bridges, with a couple of double-digit wins, making it three straight wins over the Spartans and each was by at least 10 points. Michigan fans were singing the praises of John Beilein, stating that he owned Tom Izzo and the Hall of Fame coach’s run in the state was over.

And then 2018-19 happened.

Michigan State swept Michigan in three straight games in about a month’s time, beating them in Ann Arbor without Josh Langford or Nick Ward and then again in East Lansing to clinch the Big Ten regular season title (a tie with Purdue) and the No. 1 seed in the conference tourney.

And then the two met up again in the tourney title game and Michigan State won 65-60.

Twice in one season, Michigan State beat Michigan to clinch a title and while that won’t be the case in 2019-20 because the games come so early in the conference season (Jan. 5 and Feb. 8), the wins will still go a long way for the Spartans.

Michigan will be better than people are giving them credit for in year one of Juwan Howard, but the Spartans will sweep yet again. They won’t meet a third time in the postseason, but will extend the overall streak to five in a row.

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