Michigan State vs. North Florida: College basketball preview, TV schedule
While all of the talk is on the Duke Blue Devils, Michigan State has as loaded a roster as anyone in college basketball. We’ll see them in action against the North Florida Ospreys.
TV schedule: Friday, Nov 10, Big Ten Network, 8:00 p.m. ET.
Location: Breslin Center in East Lansing, Michigan
The moment Miles Bridges announced his intentions to return for his sophomore season, the Spartans instantly became a Final Four contender. A preseason All-American, Bridges is the face of arguably the best frontcourt in all of college basketball.
The depth is what makes this collection of post players so intimidating. Nick Ward comes back for his sophomore season after an up and down campaign — although, his highs last season were great. Top-ten recruit Jaren Jackson is a likely one year player and is a natural forward at 6’11.
Michigan State will also get back a pair of veteran big men in Gavin Schilling and Ben Carter, who both missed all of last season with injuries. Duke may have more talent overall, but the Spartans have the edge in experience. There’s a good chance those two teams can meet up in the title game.
First up for Michigan State is North Florida, a consistent contender in the Atlantic Sun conference. The Ospreys finished under .500 for the season but were third in the conference standings. They come into this season without one of the best mid-major players in the country in Dallas Moore, who averaged 23.9 ppg and 4.0 apg.
North Florida does return a couple of players who had productive seasons in guard Garret Sams and forward Wajid Aminu. Aminu was second on the team with 6.5 rpg, but at 6’7 is at a huge size disadvantage against the formidable Spartans.
It’s going to be a one-sided affair down low, but how will matchups on the perimeter turn out?One weakness this team has to deal is the guard production, which at times were inconsistent. “Tum Tum” Nairn and Cassius Winston will be competing for the starting point guard position, and this game will help determine those roles.
Michigan State is by no means unbeatable, but it’ll take a team with quality size to contend against this team. The Ospreys aren’t one of those teams. With Duke on the horizon, the Spartans may sleepwalk a bit before waking up in the second half. Expect a ton of feeding down low and for Ward, in particular, to go off.
Prediction: Michigan State 86 – North Florida 64