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Will Michigan State basketball pick up more signature wins to finish season?

By Nate Rhoades

EAST LANSING, MI - JANUARY 17: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates with his teammates after receiving a commemorative ball from Former Spartan Mateen Cleaves for breaking his Big Ten assist record after 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)
EAST LANSING, MI - JANUARY 17: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates with his teammates after receiving a commemorative ball from Former Spartan Mateen Cleaves for breaking his Big Ten assist record after 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) /
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EAST LANSING, MI – FEBRUARY 04: Gabe Brown #44 of the Michigan State Spartans goes for a loose ball in the first half of the game against Izaiah Brockington #12 of the Penn State Nittany Lions at the Breslin Center on February 4, 2020 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI – FEBRUARY 04: Gabe Brown #44 of the Michigan State Spartans goes for a loose ball in the first half of the game against Izaiah Brockington #12 of the Penn State Nittany Lions at the Breslin Center on February 4, 2020 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

MSU at No. 9 Penn State (March 3 at 7 p.m. ET)

This will be the second contest between MSU and Penn State and in the first one the Nittany Lions came out on top. Lamar Stevens and Myron Jones are the Nittany Lions’ biggest contributors. These two guys are the keys to winning for Penn State.

The Spartans will need to figure out how to slow Stevens down if they want to come out on top in this one. In the first meeting, Stevens gave the Nittany Lions 24 points and Xavier Tillman fits down low. He is good enough to know how to pour into his opponent on the offensive side but more importantly on defense.

Stevens was able to hold Tillman to only nine points in their first meeting and if the Spartans want to come out on top this go-around, the junior big man will have to figure out how to beat the Nittany Lions’ star down low. He will need to attack more effectively and get into his rhythm quicker.

Over the last few games, Tillman has gotten the ball down low and waited for the double to come to him before he does anything with the ball. He needs to move quicker and beat the double team to the basket. He is a hard person to guard and he will continue to make it difficult if he goes quicker.

Something else MSU needs to do is get out and run more consistently. Last year, Tillman was one of the best big men to run the floor. This year, he’s struggling. As soon as the ball goes up, he needs to box out and then get out and run the floor. With as quick as the Spartans are, they do not utilize it effectively or consistently.

Michigan State almost beat Penn State earlier this year but they had to battle from behind once again. They know how to get the lead back but they need to figure out how to finish the game and pull out the victory.

Prediction: MSU 57, Penn State 63

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