Jaxon Kohler makes bold Big Ten tourney prediction: ‘We’ll see (Michigan) again’

The intensity in Ann Arbor on Sunday afternoon was through the roof. Michigan and Michigan State battled for 40 minutes until the Wolverines finally put the Spartans away in the final couple of minutes to win by 10.

The game was much closer than the final score indicated, and Michigan State held a lead with about 10 minutes left in the game but that unfortunately disappeared.

That didn’t stop Jaxon Kohler from having one of his best games as a Spartan. He showed up in a big way, held his own, gave Michigan all it could handle, and finished with 23 points on 10-of-13 shooting. He was obviously disappointed to have been swept by the Wolverines in his senior season, but he’s pretty confident that it won’t be the last time he sees Michigan.

Kohler spoke to the media after the loss to the Wolverines and he made a bold prediction regarding this week’s Big Ten Tournament: “We’ll see (Michigan) again.”

Jeremy Fears made sure to play it off like he wasn’t going to look ahead to a potential Big Ten title game rematch, but Kohler wasn’t about to hold back. Sitting in his locker with a black eye, Kohler was pretty fired up, proclaiming that Michigan State would see Michigan again this year.

And if he’s not talking about the Big Ten Tournament, then he’s alluding to an Elite Eight, Final Four, or national title game rematch.

Kohler’s confidence should make Michigan State fans feel pretty good about the impending NCAA Tournament run. That confidence can be contagious.

Michigan State’s BTT draw is setting up for a rematch

Michigan State has a pretty favorable draw in the Big Ten Tournament with the first matchup likely being UCLA. I like the Spartans’ chances in that rematch — they won by 23 the first time they played. After that, it’d be nice to get a rematch with Nebraska, too. I think the entire team has been begging for that rematch since the 2-point road loss in January.

If Michigan State can win those two games to improve to 27-6, it’ll be in the Big Ten title game, presumably against Michigan or lllinois.

There’s a chance that Michigan State could see Purdue instead of Nebraska as well, and I don’t love that rematch as much as the Nebraska one for the Spartans. Either way, the path is winnable for the Spartans and as long as they win two games that they’ll be favored in, they’re going to see Michigan, Wisconsin, or Illinois in the title game.

Kohler believes it’ll be Michigan State vs. Michigan for the tourney crown.