Michigan State basketball: 5 bold predictions for January 2023

EAST LANSING, MI - DECEMBER 30: A.J. Hoggard #11 of the Michigan State Spartans and the Michigan State Spartans bench celebrate during the second half against the Buffalo Bulls at Breslin Center on December 30, 2022 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

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Dec 7, 2022; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Michigan State Spartans center Mady Sissoko (22) defends as Penn State Nittany Lions forward Caleb Dorsey (4) looks to pass the ball during the second half at Bryce Jordan Center. Michigan State defeated Penn State 67-58. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Mady Sissoko proves himself yet again

To begin the season, Mady Sissoko had a lot of work to do. He was an unproven center and the guy who Tom Izzo put the most trust in to lead the post play. There had to have been a reason Izzo didn’t target a center in the transfer portal after losing Julius Marble to Texas A&M and Marcus Bingham Jr. to the NBA, right?

Well, Mady stepped up in a big way.

The Spartans began the season by playing two of the best centers in the country in the first three games and Sissoko locked both of them up and looked like he belonged on the court with them. He looked like a completely changed player from his first two seasons.

Then he took a step back in the next few weeks and really struggled to string back-to-back good games together. He wasn’t making as much noise on both ends of the court like he did against Kentucky and Gonzaga.

With the competition getting stiffer once again, I think Mady will prove himself as a top-tier big once again, averaging around eight points and 10 rebounds per game while playing well against Hunter Dickinson, Zach Edey, and Trayce Jackson-Davis. He’ll really open some eyes again.

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