Michigan State basketball: 3 bold predictions vs. Buffalo

Michigan State basketball: 3 bold predictions vs. Buffalo in non-conference finale

EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN - DECEMBER 21: Tyson Walker #2 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts after making a basket during the second half of a college basketball game against the Oakland Golden Grizzlies at Breslin Center on December 21, 2022 in East Lansing, Michigan. The Michigan State Spartans won the game 67-54 over the Oakland Golden Grizzlies. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images) /

2 of 3

Michigan State’s Tyson Walker, right, moves the ball as Oakland’s Rocket Watts defends during the second half on Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.221221 Msu Oakland 150a /

2. Tyson Walker gets back on track, scores 20-plus

After getting off to a red-hot start to the 2022-23 season, Tyson Walker has cooled off a bit. In fact, he had back-to-back 20-point games against Alabama and Villanova in November, but he hasn’t scored more than 18 since. Actually, he hasn’t scored more than 14 points in any of the past five games and has shot 50 percent or better just twice in that span.

It’s time he gets back on track and I think the return of Malik Hall will help that.

With some of the defense’s focus turning back toward Hall as well as AJ Hoggard, Walker is going to sneak open for a few big threes and he’ll take the ball to the rack a couple of times as well. But he’ll get a bulk of his points from the mid-range game which has been his bread and butter.

Walker is going to score 20-plus points for the first time since November and he’ll shoot over 50 percent from the floor and stay clean in the turnover category.

Getting Walker going before Big Ten play heats up is a must.

Home/Spartans Basketball