Michigan State basketball: 3 bold predictions for Penn State rematch

For the second time since the new year, Michigan State basketball will face Penn State but this time the Spartans will travel to Happy Valley.

The first meeting between these two teams took place in East Lansing in early January for the annual Izzone alumni game and it ended in a 31-point drubbing of the Nittany Lions. Michigan State could do no wrong en route to a 92-61 win. But Penn State has gotten a lot better since then.

In fact, the Nittany Lions are 6-7 in conference play, right behind the Spartans.

So let's get bold ahead of this rematch between the Spartans and Penn State.

3. Xavier Booker will play meaningful minutes

This shouldn't even be a bold prediction at this point in the season, but Tom Izzo is going to have to keep true to his word and play his five-star freshman big man more.

The first time these two teams met, Booker played 15 minutes and had five points and three rebounds. It wasn't the most spectacular showing for the freshman as he had just come off an 11-point, seven-rebound game in his previous outing, but he saw extensive minutes. He did get bullied a little bit in the post by the Nittany Lions which showed Izzo that he still had work to do.

I think Izzo gives him another shot to prove himself on Wednesday night, playing him 10 minutes. Booker will respond with six points and three rebounds to go along with a huge block.

At this point, we'll take what we can get from Booker.