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Michigan State Basketball: 3 bold predictions for 2022 Big Ten Tournament

By Connor Muldowney

COLUMBUS, OHIO - MARCH 03: Tyson Walker #2 and Gabe Brown #44 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrate a basket during the first half against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Value City Arena on March 03, 2022 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OHIO - MARCH 03: Tyson Walker #2 and Gabe Brown #44 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrate a basket during the first half against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Value City Arena on March 03, 2022 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) /
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The Big Ten Tournament is officially upon us and it’s time to get bold regarding Michigan State basketball’s path and potential matchups.

In what has been a rarity for Tom Izzo and Michigan State basketball, the Spartans do not get the double-bye in the Big Ten Tournament as they earned the No. 7 seed with a Thursday night matchup against Maryland.

The Terps are the 10-seed and Michigan State beat them twice this season, including in the season finale, 77-67. Beating a team three times is never easy, however.

If Michigan State beats the Terrapins, it’ll face Wisconsin on Friday evening at approximately 6:30 p.m. ET. If Michigan State can beat the Badgers on Friday in a rematch, it’ll play on Saturday in the semifinals against either Penn State, Purdue, or Ohio State at around 3:30 p.m. ET.

It won’t be easy, but Michigan State could put together a nice little run here. Let’s get bold.

3. Malik Hall, Tyson Walker lead team in scoring

However far the Spartans go (we will touch on that prediction shortly), they’ll be led by Malik Hall and Tyson Walker. The two juniors have to step up if Michigan State wants to make some noise in March and that’s fairly obvious considering how well the Spartans fare when those two play well.

Michigan State is 12-3 when Hall scores in double figures. The Spartans are 8-1 when he scores at least 15 points. Basically, when he’s on his game, Michigan State is tough to beat.

When Walker scores at least 10 points, the Spartans are 9-2. He can take over if he really wants to, but he’s been hesitant to hunt for his own shot. That changed a little bit toward the end of the regular season and it’ll continue in the postseason.

Hall and Walker will step up and lead the team in scoring in the Big Ten Tournament.

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