The annual Tom Izzo vs. Greg Kampe ugly Christmas sweater game is upon us, and this time Oakland and Michigan State basketball will face off in Detroit at Little Caesars Arena.
The Spartans haven’t lost to Oakland under Izzo, but it feels like Kampe and the Grizzlies find a way to make it interesting every couple of years. Michigan State actually struggled with the Grizzlies in the first half of last year’s game, holding just a one-point lead at halftime before blowing Oakland out in the second half.
Like last year, Michigan State has a legitimate national title contender on its hands while Oakland is better than its record suggests. It will always be well-coached under Kampe.
What can we expect this year?
Let’s get bold.
1. Three Spartans finish with double-doubles
Jaxon Kohler has been a walking double-double this season, and Jeremy Fears Jr. can be, too, when he’s hitting his shots. Those two Spartans are the biggest threats to reach double-double status every game, but rarely is there a third who even flirts with one.
That changes on Saturday afternoon.
Fears and Kohler will get their usual double-doubles, but I see a third joining in. My best guess would be Carson Cooper, but it could honestly be anyone from Coen Carr to Cam Ward. I’m going with Cooper as the third double-double. Fears will have 12 points and 10 assists, Kohler will have 15 points and 12 boards, and Cooper will finish with 10 and 10.
2. MSU out-rebounds Oakland by 20-plus
Michigan State has been on quite the run in terms of rebounding. The Spartans have out-rebounded just about everyone this season, and their last game concluded with a 54-24 Michigan State advantage on the glass against Toledo. Before that, the Spartans out-rebounded Penn State by 13 and Iowa by 19.
For a second straight game, Michigan State will out-rebound an opponent by at least 20. The Grizzlies average about 34 per game compared to the Spartans’ 42.7 average, and I think it’s even more lopsided at LCA on Saturday.
Michigan State will dominate the glass from start to finish, out-rebounding Oakland 47-26.
3. Michigan State scores 100
It looked like Michigan State was well on its way to scoring 100 points against Toledo on Tuesday, but a really poor second-half effort held the Spartans to 92 points.
Michigan State may be playing an even worse defense on Saturday.
Oakland is scoring 84.1 points per game, but it’s also allowing a whopping 84.4 per game. That means that Oakland has one of the worst defenses in college basketball, and Michigan State is going to take full advantage. The Spartans are heavy favorites, and I think that holds, and I think they score 100 points on the Grizzlies..
Michigan State will win this one, 101-75.