Michigan State basketball: 5 bold predictions for January 2023

The calendar has turned over to January and we’re officially into a new year of Michigan State basketball. After a 9-4 start to the season, the Spartans are re-entering Big Ten play on Tuesday with the hopes of winning a conference title for the fourth time in six seasons.

It’s going to take a lot of resilience, however, as Malik Hall is just coming off an injury and there just isn’t as much proven depth this year as there’s been in years past.

January could either be really good or disappointing for the Spartans — I don’t see any in-between.

Let’s get bold ahead of the first month of 2023.

5. Jaden Akins continues to shoot over 40 percent from deep

Through nine games of his sophomore season, Jaden Akins is shooting a smooth 47 percent from 3-point range. He’s one of those guys you simply cannot leave open and this comes after a dreadful 3-for-15 start to the season from beyond the arc.

Since that horrid start, he’s caught fire and he’s now 11 for his last 15 from 3-point land. That’s an unheard-of conversion rate from distance, but he’s playing very well.

Confidence is rising and he’s not afraid to shoot that deep shot even with an inch of space and I see that paying off throughout the month of January as well as he maintains that 40-plus percent shooting touch from 3-point range.