Michigan State Basketball: 3 bold predictions for bout with rival Michigan

Michigan State basketball finally gets the chance to play in-state rival Michigan on Saturday. This will be the first meeting this season.

Michigan State comes back home after a grueling two-game road stretch that included games against Wisconsin and Illinois. They split those games, beating Wisconsin handily and losing to Illinois by one after storming back from a 14-point deficit.

The Spartans this season have been up and down. They have played to the strengths of their opponents and have struggled to take charge of the game. Michigan State will be led by Gabe Brown and Marcus Bingham who know this rival well and the intensity they bring to the court.

The Spartans will try to right their wrongs after losing to Illinois so what will we see in this matchup?

3. Tyson Walker will take over

Tyson Walker is new to the Spartans this year. He has not played the Wolverines and does not know the type of intensity the maize and blue bring. His teammate will definitely prepare him for this and so will Tom Izzo.

Walker will feed off the fans’ hype and take over this game. He has been quiet lately, scoring only eight points per game in his last three contests. He has also been struggling to get into a rhythm and turns the ball over frequently having 2.6 per game with 5 assists in those same three games.

The transfer point guard will find his groove early and have an incredible game. He will have a double-double with 19 points and 10 assists, while only turning the ball over one time. These 19 points will be a season-high for him.

Watch out, Michigan, because you will be introduced to Walker early and it will give you nightmares of Cassius Winston again.