Michigan State Basketball: 3 bold predictions vs. UConn in Battle 4 Atlantis

Michigan State basketball opened the Battle 4 Atlantis with a clutch two-point win over an unbeaten Loyola Chicago team led by former assistant Drew Valentine.

With the win, the Spartans got to sit back and watch as their next opponent would be playing in the following game as UConn took on Auburn. The winner of that game would head to the semifinals to play the Spartans and the Huskies held on to win in double overtime, scoring 115 points along the way.

Watching UConn hit 3-pointer after 3-pointer was unsettling for Michigan State fans who saw the Spartans torched in the second half by Braden Norris from long range, but this defense has the ability to cause some problems.

Let’s get bold ahead of this big game against No. 22 UConn.

3. Tyson Walker finally scores in double figures

Believe it or not, Tyson Walker has yet to score in double figures in a Spartan uniform after averaging over 18 points per game last season with Northeastern.

Walker took a step forward on Wednesday afternoon, scoring eight points on nine shots and making both 3-point attempts. He wasn’t afraid to shoot the ball and it seems like that’s something Tom Izzo has been working with him on. If Michigan State is going to take that next step, he’s going to have to be an offensive threat.

After scoring eight points with two big threes against Loyola Chicago, Walker is going to hit some of those bunnies he missed against the Ramblers and finish with over 10 points.

The Battle 4 Atlantis is going to give Walker some confidence.