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Michigan State Basketball: 3 bold predictions vs. No. 12 Michigan

By Connor Muldowney

ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - FEBRUARY 24: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates a second half play with Xavier Tillman #23 while playing the Michigan Wolverines at Crisler Arena on February 24, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan State won the game 77-70. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - FEBRUARY 24: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates a second half play with Xavier Tillman #23 while playing the Michigan Wolverines at Crisler Arena on February 24, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan State won the game 77-70. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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If you’re a Michigan State basketball fan, you have to be excited about Sunday’s game against No. 12 Michigan. Will the Spartans win a fourth straight?

The biggest Big Ten game of the season is already upon us as Michigan State will host Michigan on Sunday evening with a chance to win four straight against the Wolverines.

Michigan may have three straight losses against the Spartans, but that’s not indicative of how truly heated this rivalry has been over the past few years — we can thanks John Beilein for that. He has helped build Michigan into a national power and they have been a thorn in the Spartans’ sides for the past handful of seasons.

Tom Izzo takes this rivalry seriously and we’ll see just how fierce this battle will be with Juwan Howard at the helm but my money is on the former Fab Five member keeping the hatred (albeit on the respectful side) alive.

What could we see take place on Sunday afternoon?

3. Marcus Bingham Jr. has perfect follow-up

After putting together the best game of his young career, Marcus Bingham Jr. has some confidence to play with. He has seen what he can do against one of the Big Ten’s best bigs and he’s going to need to carry that over into Sunday’s game against Michigan.

Bingham Jr. finished the game against Illinois without a single point but he had five blocks and a career-high 12 blocks in 20 minutes. He showed that he can stay on the floor for 15-20 minutes and he’ll have to do that again versus Michigan with Jon Teske and Franz Wagner stretching the floor to give the Spartans problems.

The sophomore big man will follow up that career game with another gem as he’ll hold his own in the post with four blocks, seven rebounds and he’ll even reach the scoring column with eight points.

This kid is gaining some momentum, so watch out, Big Ten.

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