Big Ten Basketball: Conference tournament preview and predictions

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Mar 5, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Denzel Valentine (45) brings the ball up court during the first half of a game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Michigan State Spartans

If there is one team hotter than Indiana, it is the Spartans.

Michigan State is 10-1 over their last 11 games with an average margin of victory of nearly 22 points. Yes, there are large victories over teams like Penn State and Rutgers, but during their streak they beat Rutgers (twice), Penn State and Northwestern all by over 30 points.

Let me repeat that. They have won four conference games in their last 11 each by over 30 points. That is hard to do, no matter what is the level of competition.

The Spartans have not just beat up on the bottom of the Big Ten.

During that stretch, they also beat Indiana by 19 at home. This speaks to a larger point about a proposed Michigan State-Indiana championship match-up. I think Michigan State matches up really well with Indiana. Here is why:

Size

Michigan State has the size and talent to neutralize Thomas Bryant in the post. Senior Matt Costello will go to battle in the lane with anyone and is one of the toughest bigs in the country.

Elsewhere, freshman Deyonta Davis and sophomore forward Marvin Clark Jr. gives Sparty the athleticism to match-up with dynamic players like Indiana’s Troy Williams.

In Michigan State’s win against Indiana, Williams was held scoreless on 0-of-5 shooting from the field.

Shooting

Not sure you can out-shoot Indiana, but Michigan State is lethal from deep as well. Denzel Valentine shoots 45% from three, junior guard Eron Harris shoots over 40%, freshman guard Matt McQuaid shoots over 40%, and senior Bryn Forbes shoots an incredible 50.5% from three. The only team in the conference to shoot better than Indiana over the 18 game Big Ten season? Michigan State.

Denzel Valentine

He is so good, he gets his own category. Not taking anything away from Ferrell, but Valentine is in his own league.

The senior guard was just named USA Today’s National Player of the Year, and it is deserved. Valentine’s line of 19.6 ppg, 7.5 rbg. and 7.5 apg. is the best college basketball has seen in years. He is the maestro of Michigan State’s team and single-handedly puts Michigan State in the conversation for a national championship.

In their previous meeting against Indiana, Valentine ended up with 22 points (10-12 shooting) and 10 rebounds. There is little a team can do to stop him, you just have to hope he is inefficient in his production.

More busting brackets: ACC Conference Tournament preview

Valentine will continue to put up these types of numbers and lead Michigan State to their third conference tournament championship since 2012. The championship will also propel Michigan State to a number one seed in the tournament and one of the best bets to win it all in Houston.

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