#20 Wisconsin (17-7) will host the #11 Michigan State Spartans (19-5) tonight in a very important Big Ten matchup. The Badgers are coming from a tough loss to #6 Michigan on the road last weekend. And for the Spartans, they will ride in after an imposing win against Minnesota.
How Wisconsin Can Win
Keep an imposing defensive scheme on the Spartans all game long. If there is one thing this Wisconsin team can do, it is defense. Also, with matching other team’s paces and adapting quickly to changes their opponents have made, this team is scary. I think we will see a strong defensive performance put on by this team as they reach for an upset.
How Michigan State Can Win
Move off of the bad stretch and use momentum from the Minnesota game. Michigan State went through a rough patch of games where they lost by five points or less each game. However, the Spartans found their spark against Minnesota and buried the Gophers. In that game we saw Michigan State stick to their roots of meaningful possessions with high percentage shooting (49.5%). Watch for the Spartans to work almost entirely off of the momentum given to them by the Gophers.
Players to Watch
Wisconsin: D’Mitrik Trice needs to have a great game against the Spartans for an upset to happen. Happ makes the game winnable most of the time, but it is in the guard spot where we see Wisconsin fail. Trice must step up tonight and I think we might just see that with his stellar three point shooting at 44.9%.
Michigan State: Running the key will be Cassius Winston for the Spartans. Winston will bring a forceful presence on offense with lots of driving and foul drawing. I think Michigan State might try to employ Winston’s size to draw fouls on Happ and seal a win.
Score Prediction
Every team has their bad stretch where they seem to lose games that they should’ve won. This stretch has come and gone for the Spartans and they will climb back up the ladder. Wisconsin will keep it close with Happ leading the ship. However, this will not be enough for Wisconsin as they drop another. Michigan State 77, Wisconsin 70
Photo Credits: https://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/michigan-state/spartans/2019/02/12/michigan-state-basketball-wisconsin-scouting-report-pick/2841548002/
