
1. AJ Hoggard needs to start again
AJ Hoggard was given his first start of the season on Saturday against Indiana and he showed why he should start more often. He had 14 points with eight assists and only two turnovers. That’s an excellent contribution from a key spot in this Michigan State offense.
Michigan State is at its best when the point guards are leading the team and playing well. Think of all the great MSU teams in years past: Mateen Cleaves, Kalin Lucas, Keith Appling, Travis Trice, Denzel Valentine, Cassius Winston; all of these point guards were the leaders of their team when they made a deep run in the tournament and had good years in conference play.
Hoggard and Tyson Walker, for that matter, need to continue to play well if Michigan State wants to replicate the success of these former guards. With Hoggard starting, I think that gets the Spartans closer to this kind of success. He knows what the clear expectation is from Tom Izzo and has adapted. Walker has not quite adapted to the expectations he had in place so giving Hoggard another start will be crucial for the Spartans in not only this game but for the rest of the season.
If these three things can happen, Michigan State will cruise to another blowout win and will show that the slump they have gone through the past eight games is over. This will also be a start of a more consistent Michigan State squad for the rest of the season.
Prediction: Michigan State 85, Penn State 68