Michigan State Basketball: Game-by-game predictions for February 2022
By Nate Rhoades
Wisconsin is looking for revenge as it travels to the Breslin Center to take on the Spartans. Getting dominated in your home arena where it’s normally tough to play did not make the Badgers very happy. They’ll start strong led by a huge performance by Johnny Davis. However, this will be the only huge performance.
Michigan State has played Wisconsin and knows its game. They like to get the ball to Davis and let him work. Wisconsin also likes to play slow, completely opposite of the Spartans. Michigan State will let Davis get into a rhythm early and he won’t be stopped. However, the rest of the Badgers will be completely shut down. Max Christie will do his best with Davis and Brad Davison and will be able to shut down the latter all night.
Christie will also have an impressive shooting performance in this close affair.
Christie won’t be the only Spartan to have a great game. Malik Hall and Jaden Akins will shine this contest, leading the Spartans to this victory off the bench when the starters won’t be able to find much grace.
Prediction: Michigan State 58, Wisconsin 57 (19-4, 10-2)
Staying at home, Michigan State will get to take on the Hoosiers led by Trayce Jackson-Davis who is the leader of this Hoosier team with 18 points and eight rebounds per game. He’s a big who is challenging to defend. If it’s not Jackson-Davis, it’s Race Thompson who’s another forward who can get to the basket but also spread you out and shoot the three, which he hasn’t done a ton of but has been warming up from deep in his last two games.
The Spartans will look to shut down Jackson-Davis. That will be their No. 1 plan. Marcus Bingham Jr. will likely be the guy matched up on Trayce and it will be another test for him. He has not seen a ton of All-Big Ten bigs so far so this will be a tough test for him.
Prediction: Michigan State 67, Indiana 63 (20-4, 11-2)