Wisconsin at Michigan State: 2020-21 key storylines to watch

Michigan State at center

Just to mix it up a bit from the Badgers’ last game where the storyline was whether Coach Gard would be able to play Micah Potter and Nate Reuvers at the same time, this time it simply is, will the Spartans’ frontcourt be able to stop Potter in the paint.

In their upset loss to Northwestern on Dec. 20, 2020, Michigan State allowed the Wildcats to shoot 14-17 from inside the charge line. Most of the success came from starting center Pete Nance, but the most telling was the one bucket made by Ryan Young.

While Pete Nance scored his fifteen points in a variety of ways, which included but not limited to, fast-break dunks, a three-pointer, and turn-around jumpers from the block, Young made his only basket by dipping his shoulder and created space in the paint. This something that should be seen a lot by Potter (13.9 ppg) on Christmas Day.

The storyline evolves as the decision rests upon the coaching shoulders of Coach Izzo as to continue to start Thomas Kithier just to play him twelve minutes a game. Kithier more often than not was the victim to Nance’s array of baskets. At 6’11, Marcus Bingham will be the best bet to stop Potter, as Joey Hauser will be responsible for Reuvers.