18. Michigan State (2-0)
Following a few recent seasons that were slightly underwhelming, Michigan State stood out as Big Ten regular season champions last season. Tom Izzo brought back some notable talent from that team and has a unit that can be a big winner again this season. We’re months away from the games that matter most, but this is an interesting time to see what these Spartans are made of and we got a quick taste of that this weekend.
Opening night wasn’t as prosperous as expected, though the Spartans held on for an 80-69 win over Colgate. Jaxon Kohler had 16 points and 15 rebounds while Jeremy Fears Jr. had 14 points and 10 assists in the victory. Saturday’s performance wasn’t just better but more important, as Michigan State beat Arkansas 69-66 in an early barometer for this team. This time it was Cam Ward standing out with 18 points and 10 rebounds off the bench, with the Spartans surviving a cold shooting night from outside the arc.
If Michigan State can beat a ranked team on a night when they shoot less than 8% from outside the arc, then it’s clear that this team can find ways to win games. The defense was pretty solid this week and it’s clear that they’ll run through Fears leading this offense. What lies ahead is still a mystery after a week of rocky performances, but the Spartans should keep this early streak alive against San Jose State in next week’s only contest.