Michigan State Basketball: 2018-19 season preview for the Spartans
Non-Conference Breakdown
Here are the highlights from Michigan State’s non conference schedule. With the Big Ten playing 20 conference games, it may seem shorter than normal.
November 6th, Kansas, Neutral
All eyes will be on Michigan State as they open the season against Kansas. This is the first game of the Champion’s classic (Duke and Kentucky being the later game) and will provide a meaningful matchup on the first day of the season. Kansas will likely start as the top-ranked team in the preseason so Michigan State will have a great opportunity to impress on a national stage.
Udoka Azubuike is their leading returning scorer at 13.0 ppg. The imposing center is unstoppable in the paint (77% fg shooting), but is a horrendous free throw shooter (41%). However, the biggest reasons for the optimism surrounding Kansas are the additions of Dedric Lawson and Quentin Grimes. Lawson is a potential NBA Draft pick who stuffed the stat sheet at Memphis while Grimes is a top ten recruit who has a knack for scoring the basketball.
November 22nd, UCLA, Neutral
Michigan State’s first game in the Las Vegas Invitational will be against UCLA. Personally, I think UCLA is one of the most overrated teams in the country and Michigan State should win this game easily. The Bruins lost two players to the NBA Draft (Aaron Holiday and Thomas Welsh) from a team that lost in the play-in round of the NCAA Tournament. They do have two sophomores who are ready to become household names and have NBA futures of their own, Kris Wilkes and Jaylen Hands. Wilkes is a long athletic wing who can score at all three levels. Hands is a super athletic combo guard who will be asked to run the point full-time.
November 23rd, UNC/Texas, Neutral
In the second game of the Las Vegas Invitational, the Spartans will either play UNC or Texas. UNC should be a top ten team and the Luke Maye, Nassir Little, Cameron Johnson combination at center, PF, and SF should be among the best in the country. When you throw in Kenny Williams at SG, you have four extremely talented players who will all average double figures. UNC’s biggest uncertainty comes at PG where freshman combo guard Coby White looks to be the opening day favorite.
Texas should be a top 30 ish team and return to the NCAA Tournament despite losing Mo Bamba. Senior PF Dylan Osetkowski is an underrated big man, but the strength of this team lies in the deep and talented backcourt. Sophomore Matt Coleman will be the starting PG for the second straight season and senior guard Kerwin Roach is super athletic and an improved shooter. Texas’ ceiling is determined by the health of Andrew Jones who is the team’s best player if he has fully recovered from cancer.
November 27th, Louisville, Road
Louisville looks like a bubble team, at best, after losing its three leading scorers (Deng Adel, Ray Spalding, and Quentin Snider). Junior wing VJ King and sophomore sharpshooter Jordan Nwora could be ready for breakout seasons. Chris Mack has also added a pair of grad transfers to step into huge roles at the guard positions, PG Christen Cunningham and combo guard Khwan Fore. Louisville’s success will be linked to their frontcourt as one of the Malik Williams, Akoy Agau, and Steven Enoch trio needs to step forward and produce at a high level. Because this is a road game, it will almost definitely could as a quadrant one game.
December 8th, Florida, Road
The last important non-conference game for Michigan State is their road game against Florida. Florida should be a top 25 team so this would certainly be a resume building win. The Gators are led by a pair of senior scorers, Jalen Hudson and Kevaughn Allen. Both players can create their own shot and shoot from long-range, but Allen needs a bounce-back year after a disappointing junior season. Keith Stone is also an important piece in the frontcourt because he can space the floor and play the PF and center positions. The key to Florida’s success lies in the hands of Andrew Nembhard, the savvy freshman PG who will be given the keys from the start.