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Michigan State basketball: Predicting the 2023 Big Ten Tournament

By Scott Tolonen

EAST LANSING, MI - MARCH 04: Tyson Walker #2 of the Michigan State Spartans during players introductions before a game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Breslin Center on March 4, 2023 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - MARCH 04: Tyson Walker #2 of the Michigan State Spartans during players introductions before a game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Breslin Center on March 4, 2023 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
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Michigan State guard A.J. Hoggard dribbles as Iowa guard Tony Perkins defends Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.Syndication Hawkcentral
Michigan State guard A.J. Hoggard dribbles as Iowa guard Tony Perkins defends Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.Syndication Hawkcentral /

Friday’s early games

  • Michigan Wolverines vs. Purdue Boilermakers

On paper, Purdue should run away from the team that failed to beat a single AP Top 25 team in five tries this season. But I’m giving a slight edge to Michigan when it comes to guard play, especially late in the season. Kobe Bufkin and Dug McDaniel have surged lately while Purdue’s Fletcher Loyer and Braden Smith seem to have hit that freshman wall.

Stop me if you’ve heard this before but Michigan goes down double digits early, but in a stunning turn of events, Zach Edey has to sit the final 10 minutes of the first have with two fouls, allowing Michigan to crawl back.

A nail-biter down to the wire finishes with Purdue advancing to the semifinals.

Prediction: Purdue 73, Michigan 71

  • Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Michigan State Spartans

Absolute electricity when these two teams played this year. With a series split and red-hot shooting from the outside, Vegas sets this over/under at an astonishing 201.5. The Spartans learn from their mistakes and also learn how to (insert expletive here) guard Filip Rebraca for an entire game.

Prediction: Michigan State 90, Iowa 87

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