Michigan State Basketball: Game-by-game predictions for February 2022
By Nate Rhoades
After a two-game home stretch, MSU will have to travel to Penn State, led by Jalen Pickett. The Nittany Lions will want revenge since the Spartans dismantled them in the first meeting. This just won’t happen though. The Spartans are too big and too deep for the Nittany Lions. John Harrar will battle down low but have a tough match-up against Marcus Bingham.
Bingham and the Spartans, on the other hand, will have another huge game. By this point, Bingham should be the all-time leader in career blocks for the Spartans. He will just continue to add to his totals though making it hard for Pickett and Co. to get anything down low. Max Christie will continue his hot shooting streak and show why he should be the Big Ten Freshmen of the Year.
Prediction: Michigan State 87, Penn St 70 (21-4, 12-2)
Michigan State will have a revenge game against Illinois. They played sloppy ball against the short-handed Illini but positioned themselves to win but fell short by one point. This Illinois team should be at full strength this game which will give the Spartans even more fits.
Kofi Cockburn is big and strong and will give Bingham and Julius Marble fits all game long.
Michigan State will be on a long winning streak but this Illinois team will prove to be too much. Gabe Brown will have another poor shooting night like he did in his first meeting against the illini and that rough patch will fall on other Spartans. The Spartans will look tired and not be on their best game as only one player scores in double figures: Malik Hall.
Prediction: Illinois 65, Michigan State 58 (21-5, 12-3)