If you’re like most Michigan State basketball fans, you’ve probably been itching for some more Spartan hoops after that dominant win over Kentucky.
Luckily, you won’t have to wait much longer as the Spartans will host 1-4 Detroit Mercy on Friday night at the Breslin Center before next week’s Fort Myers Tip-Off.
It’s time to get bold.
1. MSU hits 10+ threes again
While I don’t think Michigan State is going to hit 50 percent of its shots from deep again, I do believe that the Spartans will get a higher volume of attempts up, but they’ll hit around 40 percent. Still, not bad.
But with that 40 percent shooting from deep, Michigan State will make at least 10 for a second straight games, which will be music to Spartan fans’ ears considering the team had a total of 13 makes from 3-point range through the first three games. Michigan State was just 13-for-60 heading into the Kentucky game, but sometimes all you need to see is a few go through the hoop and the confidence returns.
I’m expecting another solid shooting day for Kur Teng, Trey Fort, and Jaxon Kohler. I think we’ll even see Jeremy Fears Jr. get into the mix.
2. Coen Carr game
We’ve seen Fears, Fort, Teng, Cam Ward, and Kohler all have breakout games recently, but I think it’s time Coen Carr has himself a big day.
Carr has been quiet, but that’s because he hasn’t needed to do a ton. I think he’s going to have himself a quiet, but explosive, outing against Detroit Mercy as the Titans just won’t be able to effectively defend against him. He’s too athletic and explosive, and I think Detroit Mercy might lose sight of him a little too much, and he’s going to take advantage.
I think we’ll finally see Carr have one of those gaudy-number games, scoring 20 points with nine rebounds, and three blocks. It just feels like he’s due.
3. Michigan State covers, and then some
Over the years, it feels like any time the spread is massive against a weaker opponent, Michigan State fails to cover. It’s already happened against Colgate and San Jose State this season, but Tom Izzo has shown to be very frustrated with his team’s lackadaisical play against inferior opponents.
We’ll see a much more motivated and hungry team on Friday night as the Spartans dominate from start to finish, holding a 20-point lead throughout before stepping on the gas in the second half to push that advantage to 30-plus.
Michigan State will cover, and then even flirt with a 40-point win.