Michigan State Basketball: Game-by-game predictions for December
Nov 20, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo talks to Michigan State Spartans guard Eron Harris (14) during the second half of a game at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Starting the month of December without Miles Bridges, Michigan State basketball will face a favorable schedule.
Michigan State basketball is coming off a grueling November schedule that saw the team go to Hawaii, New York City, the Bahamas and to Durham, N.C. All in all, the team went 4-4 but played better basketball later on in November.
Michigan State was completely outmatched by Kentucky and had no answer for Johnathan Motley of Baylor. This Michigan State basketball team is going to get better than it already is.
The Spartans played their best game of the year at Cameron Indoor which is probably the toughest place to play in America. I don’t think any of us expected MSU to be tied at halftime with Duke, let alone hold a lead in the second half before Duke went on a 11-0 run aided by a “offensive goaltending” call against Nick Ward.
This team is going to gain more confidence and is going to be a completely different team by the time Big Ten play begins at the end of December.
Here’s my game-by-game prediction for the month. Despite the loss of Miles Bridges to an ankle injury, it looks like the Spartans should be OK. He will be out 2-3 weeks, but Michigan State’s only tough game during that stretch might be vs. Oakland.
Nov 23, 2016; Paradise Island, BAHAMAS; Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo speaks with guard Lourawls Nairn Jr. (11) during the second half against the St. John’s Red Storm in the 2016 Battle 4 Atlantis in the Imperial Arena at the Atlantis Resort. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Oral Roberts Golden Eagles
Dec. 6, East Lansing, MI
The Spartans are finally back in East Lansing and will have time to do something they haven’t had very much time to do yet this season: practice. The couple days of practice before this game against Oral Roberts will give Tom Izzo time to correct the little things that need to be corrected. The Spartans need to work on rebounding and doing the famed war drill will help this team in that area.
Oral Roberts is 1-6 on the season and hasn’t really played a tough schedule like most mid-majors do. The toughest game it has played this season is against Baylor which it ultimately lost by 15. The Golden Eagles’ only win has come against a team called Rogers State (I have no idea where that school is located). If you feel so inclined to do a little scouting of the Golden Eagles, I didn’t know Eagles were Golden, take a look at last night’s film in their loss to Oakland.
Prediction: Michigan State will win this game by double digits (5-4)
Youngstown State Penguins
Dec. 6, East Lansing, MI
The Spartans will be coming off a win against Oral Roberts and will have some confidence heading into this matchup with the Penguins — yes, that’s really their mascot.
One guy to keep and eye on for the Penguins is Cameron Morse. The Junior guard from Flint is averaging 23 points per game this season, including scoring 40 against Toledo. Slowing him down will be key for Michigan State. I think this team could give Michigan State problems. They are a high scoring team averaging 81 points per game. Michigan State will need to keep them in the 60s and be able to rebound the ball well.
Prediction: I think Nick Ward will have a big game to lead the Spartans past the upset minded Penguins of Youngstown State (6-4)
Fun Fact: Old friend Bo Pelini is the head football coach at Youngstown State.
Dec 19, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Eron Harris (14) pass the ball during the first half against the Northeastern Huskies at Matthews Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles
Dec. 10, East Lansing, MI
Tennessee Tech will come into East Lansing with four wins, at the very least. One of those wins is against a team by the name of Hiwassee College, I know i’ve never heard of them, either, and another of the wins will be against Crowley’s Ridge College (again never heard of that).
By the time the Golden Eagles — no, not Oral Roberts again — comes to East Lansing the Spartans will be playing really well and will not allow Tennessee Tech to get into the game. Miles Bridges would have a dunk contest against himself during the game if he happened to be healthy and the Izzone would be judging each dunk. Maybe Eron Harris will put on a show.
Prediction: Michigan State wins easy (7-4)
Northeastern Huskies
Dec. 18, East Lansing, MI
Northeastern will give Michigan State problems. They have already beaten Connecticut this season. Each of their losses this season has been by 10 points or less which is the mark of a solid team. Unfortunately, Northeastern will be in the midst of a 6 game road trip before arriving in East Lansing to take on a well rested Michigan State team. Northeastern is big. They have three guys who are 6’10” or taller and we’ve seen what size can do to Michigan State.
Prediction: I think Michigan State will make enough plays down the stretch to pull away from the Huskies of Northeastern (8-4)
Dec 22, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Eron Harris (14) and Oakland Golden Grizzlies guard Martez Walker (35) during overtime at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Michigan State won 99-93 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Oakland Grizzlies
Dec. 21, East Lansing, MI
Oh, the Oakland Golden Grizzlies. This is always a tough match up for Michigan State. The game last year at the Palace was crazy. Thanks to Eron Harris’ big game without Denzel Valentine in the lineup, the Spartans avoided the upset by beating Oakland in overtime.
This isn’t the same Oakland team, though. Kay Felder is gone and in the NBA. Also, Oakland hasnt really been tested yet this year. The toughest game the Grizzlies have played this season is against Bowling Green, maybe? I’m not really sure. It certainly isn’t against Goshen (where in the world is Goshen and why are they playing D1 basketball?) Anyway, I digress.
This game is going to be a battle. This is a rivalry game for Oakland. This is a game for them to prove that they should have been taken by Tom Izzo. In th end I think the Spartans win this game simply because it’s at the Breslin.
Prediction: Close win (9-4)
Fun Fact: Illinois Transfer Kendrick Nunn plays for Oakland but he has to sit out a year.
Jan 2, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Gophers forward Jordan Murphy (3) fouls Michigan State Spartans guard Eron Harris (14) in the second half Williams Arena. The Michigan State Spartans beat the Minnesota Gophers 69-61. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Minnesota Golden Gophers
Dec. 27, Minneapolis, MN
Big ten play begins for the Spartans as they travel to The Barn. Minnesota is always a tough place to play. The raised court makes for an interesting venue. The benches are below the court and the head coach has to sit by himself on the raised court to effectively communicate with the team.
Minnesota is off to a good start this season at 6-1 with its only loss coming against Florida State on the road. Minnesota hasn’t had a tough schedule this season and has only left the state of Minnesota once this season and won’t play another road game until it takes on Purdue in West Lafayette.
So out of the Golden Gophers’ first 14 games, they only play two road games. How is that fair? What is this, Michigan’s football schedule? Challenge yourself a little bit, young Richard Pitino.
In all seriousness, freshman Amir Coffey is the real deal. The Spartans will need to shut him down if they want to start the Big Ten season off in the right direction. Michigan State will come into this game with confidence thanks to a nice five-game winning streak. By this game, Nick Ward will be starting in place of Kenny Goins and will be averaging 15 points and 12 rebounds per game.
Prediction: I think the Spartans will ultimately lose a close game in a tough environment (9-5, 0-1)
Fun Fact: Minnesota lost more games last year than they have in the previous 121 seasons. Not good.
Northwestern Wildcats
Dec. 30, East Lansing, MI
The Northwestern Wildcats have never been to the NCAA Tournament, but this year they will get there. The Wildcats are a solid team and they’ve proven that by beating No. 22 Texas by 19 and losing a close game to a good Notre Dame team by just four.
Northwestern could very well enter this game 12-2 and in the top 25 which would be huge for that program. If that happens, the Wildcats will be playing with so much confidence that it’ll be tough to beat them. Fortunately, for Michigan State this game is in East Lansing, although a game in Evanston is basically a home game for Michigan State anyway.
This game is going to be a battle but I just don’t see how Northwestern will slow down Miles Bridges. I think Michigan State will run away with this game in the second half and show the country that this MSU team is a force to be reckoned with.
Prediction: Win (10-5, 1-1)
More from Spartan Avenue
This article originally appeared on 
