Michigan State basketball is hot right now. The Spartans have won four straight games to improve to 16-2 on the year and 6-1 in conference play, going off on everyone since that loss at Nebraska.
On Tuesday night, the Spartans will cap off their quick two-game road trip to the West Coast with a game against the Oregon Ducks in Eugene. The Ducks haven’t really struggled this season, sitting at 8-10 on the year, and they’re going to be without their two best players, Jackson Shelstad and Nate Bittle. This one might get ugly.
So let’s get bold ahead of this final leg of the West Coast swing.
1. Jeremy Fears goes off for 20/10
There may not be a point guard in college basketball as hot as Jeremy Fears right now, and his past six games have proven that he’s now an offensive threat.
Before, Fears was known primarily for defense and ball distribution as the nation’s assists leader, but now he’s becoming more of an offensive weapon. Over the past six games, he’s averaging over 17 points and 7.5 assists per game. He’s been one of the most consistent point guards in the country over that span, and he’s been taking over games.
With Jackson Shelstad out for the season, Fears is going to have a major advantage, and he’s going to take advantage, scoring 21 points with 11 assists.
2. Coen Carr breaks out of his mini slump
Over the past three games, Coen Carr has been held in check. The junior forward has been much better this season than he was in his first two in East Lansing, but he often disappears on the offensive end. He hasn’t taken more than six shots in any of his past three games, but that changes on Tuesday night at Oregon.
The Ducks haven’t been playing very good defensive lately, and they’re going to lose track of Carr on several occasions. He’s going to bring down the roof with a couple of huge dunks, but he’ll also hit a couple of jumpers and even a 3-pointer to extend a lead in the second half.
Carr will break out of this recent mini slump to put up 14 points with seven rebounds and two blocks.
3. Michigan State wins by double figures — again
Michigan State has four straight wins in Big Ten play, and all four were by double figures.
That will become five on Tuesday night.
The Spartans are favored by about 10 points, but I think they’ll surpass that line and win by nearly 20 against a very shorthanded Oregon team. This one won’t be that close in the second half after a surprisingly tight first 20 minutes. Michigan State wins 77-60.