Michigan State Basketball: 3 bold predictions vs. last-place Northwestern

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EAST LANSING, MI – JANUARY 17: Xavier Tillman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates his made basket in the first half of the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at the Breslin Center on January 17, 2020 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

1. Focused, efficient Spartans score 80

It’s been a few weeks since Michigan State last scored 80 points. In fact, you’d have to go all the way back to Jan. 5 against Michigan when the Spartans dropped 87 in a win at home, but the drought has reached five games. The Spartans have more 40-point games in the past five outings than 80-point outbursts.

Conversely, Northwestern surrenders about 68 points per game and hasn’t allowed 80 points since Dec. 21 at DePaul. They have been decent defensively despite a poor record and that’s been a staple of Northwestern basketball for years.

On Wednesday, the Spartans will finally break through on offense and look like the red-hot team we saw at the end of December until early-January. Cassius Winston will have yet another All-American performance with 20 points and seven assists and Xavier Tillman will probably record a double-double as the Spartans break the Wildcat defense down with precision passing.

Not many teams can keep up with the Spartans when they’re passing the ball effectively and they did just that against Minnesota on Sunday and will continue the ball movement on Wednesday night.

Next. 3 takeaways from gritty win at Minnesota. dark

Michigan State scored 77 in the first meeting against Northwestern and will drop 80 this time around while holding the Wildcats in the 60-range.

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