Michigan State basketball: 3 bold predictions vs. No. 2 Gonzaga

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 12: A.J. Hoggard #11 of the Michigan State Spartans looks to make a play against Purdue Boilermaker defenders during the first half of a Men's Big Ten Tournament Semifinals game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on March 12, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images) /

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Friday marks the first leg of the gauntlet that Michigan State basketball is set to face in non-conference play. The Spartans play No. 2 Gonzaga on an aircraft carrier in San Diego and it should be one of the most intriguing matchups of the season for college basketball fans.

For Spartan fans, however, it’s a great litmus test to see if this team can handle facing the top teams in the nation without a ton of depth.

Actually, Gonzaga plays about eight guys as well, so there won’t be a full line change of guys for the Zags against the Spartans. We’ll see how an unranked Michigan State team matches up with the nation’s No. 2 team.

Let’s get bold.

3. Jaden Akins leads MSU in scoring

Fingers crossed that Jaden Akins is feeling good enough to play on Friday evening because he looked really solid in the opener against Northern Arizona.

Tom Izzo said that he’s on somewhat of a “pitch count” early on and that may very well go for the game against Gonzaga as well but I can see him having himself a coming out party against the Bulldogs. He’s going to make a name for himself on the national stage, piecing together one of the best games of his career much like he did last year against Baylor in the Bahamas.

Akins is going to play a decent amount and he’ll be aggressive on both ends of the floor, finishing with a team-high 15 points and he’ll add a couple of steals on the defensive end.

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