The 2024-25 season is rolling right along here as the next stop for Michigan State basketball is at Ohio State to plan some revenge against the Buckeyes.
The last time these two teams met, the Spartans fell short at home in Xavier Booker's first career start, 60-57. It was a disappointing showing for a Michigan State team that needed a win to avoid the NCAA Tournament bubble, but the Spartans just couldn't overcome the magic that the Buckeyes were playing with late in the season.
Michigan State will head to Columbus looking to improve to 12-2 and to get that win from last year back. Let's dive into some bold predictions for the big matchup.
1. MSU stymies Bruce Thornton
A couple of games ago, Jeremy Fears saw Michigan State get torched by an Oakland player in the first half of the game at Little Caesars Arena. He decided to talk to Tom Izzo about guarding that same player in the second half, and when he did, the Spartans took control of the game and he only gave up two points to the same guy who scored 15 in the first half.
I see Fears having the same kind of defensive impact on Friday night.
While I could also see Tre Holloman or Jaden Akins matched up with Bruce Thornton, I think Fears will take it upon himself to shut down the Buckeyes' leading scorer who is coming off back-to-back 30-point performances.
Fears and Co. step up to hold Thornton below his season average and they don't give up anything easy as he shoots around 35 percent for the game.