3 Predictions for Michigan Basketball against Michigan State

DeVante Jones will be pivotal

Point guards always seem to play a key role against Michigan State and I wouldn’t expect this time around to be anything different.

Outside of Dickinson, the most important players for the Wolverines on Saturday is DeVante Jones and also Eli Brooks. Michigan is going to need production from these guys and it feels like the Spartans are going to make Jones prove he can win on this stage.

The Sun Belt Player of the Year has had his struggles this season but he’s really turned a corner in the past few games and for the season, he’s averaging 8.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, and four assists. He’s shooting 47 percent from the field and 45 percent from 3-point range.

Jones got to the bucket down the stretch against Northwestern and made key plays when needed. He’ll need to do the same thing on Saturday and if he can score/produce, the Spartans will have to pay more attention to him and that will lead to open looks for others because he’s proven adept at finding his teammates.

That’s the Jones Michigan needs. If the Spartans turn him into Michigan’s primary scorer then the Wolverines are in trouble.