Another day, another opportunity for a Quad 1 win for Michigan State basketball.
This time, it's the Wisconsin Badgers on the clock. This is a rematch of a game that took place a couple of weeks ago and the Spartans won in East Lansing, It was close throughout which makes me believe that Saturday afternoon's showdown is going to come down to the wire.
Plus, Wisconsin just took it to UCLA in the quarterfinal, draining three after three to advance to the semifinals and earn a rematch with the Spartans. This is going to be a heck of a game.
Let's get into the bold predictions.
1. Jase Richardson goes nuclear (again)
I guess I'm going to keep predicting this until it lets me down. Does that mean it's not bold? At this point, this may be the last time I'm able to predict a monster game for the true freshman.
I did predict that he'd score 20 against Oregon again but he came just three points short (left them at the free throw line). I think he actually scores 20 on Saturday but he adds five rebounds and five assists, really stealing the show from John Blackwell and John Tonje of Wisconsin.
Richardson will lead all scorers and put his name in the hat for Most Outstanding Player of the Big Ten Tournament.
2. Spartans stay hot from deep
There's something about Indianapolis that has all the top teams shooting lights out from three. Wisconsin hit 19 threes against UCLA to advance and Maryland was lighting up the scoreboard from deep. Michigan struggled, but Michigan State actually hit over 40 percent on 7-for-15 shooting.
The Spartans will stay hot on Saturday.
That doesn't mean Wisconsin won't hit its fair share. But I do see the Badgers shooting around 35 percent, but Michigan State out-duels them from distance, making 9-of-20 for the game. Maybe the 3-point shooting is starting to turn around?
3. MSU records its ninth straight Quad 1 win
Bold? Meh. But it's something that seems unfathomable to write so I'm going to say it's bold enough. The Spartans will reel off win No. 9 in a row against a Quad 1 opponent.
And it's not going to be easy as Wisconsin might be the second-best team left in the Big Ten Tournament (Maryland could also qualify) but Tom Izzo has coached his best basketball potentially of his career this season and he's not going to let his guys just sit back and be content with a quarterfinal finish in the tournament even though it essentially means nothing.
Michigan State will come out swinging, take the lead early, surrender it by halftime, and then its depth will allow it to regain that second-half lead and never look back.
Michigan State wins 78-73.