3 Predictions for MSU Basketball's Return vs Cornell
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Michigan State basketball is finally back after the team went on a break for Christmas.
The ninth-ranked Spartans (11-1) are playing their final non-conference game of the regular season against Cornell (6-5) on Monday night. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET on FS1. It's all Big Ten teams after this until March Madness, starting Friday with a road game against undefeated No. 13 Nebraska.
But before MSU can think about that big game against the Cornhuskers, it has to deal with the Big Red, who have the potential to be a feisty mid-major opponent out of the Ivy League.
Here are a few predictions on how Monday's game will go:
Michigan State Scores 95+
The obvious weakness of Cornell is its defense. The Big Red allows 84.8 points per game, which is all the way down at 346th in the country. In their five losses, Cornell is allowing 94.2 points per game, which includes four games of 90+ points allowed and one game of 110 points.
Michigan State has not been an offensive powerhouse, but it has shown the ability to put up some points. The Spartans' offense is ranked 46th nationally on KenPom, making it easily the best one Cornell has faced. Their 78.0 points per game are just 175th in the country, but the schedule so far already includes five games against KenPom top-50 defenses. The site puts the Big Red at 331st.
Cornell Hits 12+ Threes
What potentially makes Cornell a threat is its three-point shooting. The Big Red make 14.2 threes per game, which is the most in the entire country. They're going to need that and then some to hang around with the Spartans.
Michigan State only allows 63.3 points per game, 15th in the country, while Cornell scores 90.4 per game, 16th in the country. The Big Red are the fifth-smallest team in college basketball, according to KenPom, so they probably won't be able to hang in the paint. They'll be taking a ton of threes, and given that they shoot 41.6% as a team from out there, I think they'll make more than a few.
Big Game for Kohler
Speaking of the fact that Cornell is not very big, I think Michigan State will counter the Big Red's shooting with its own strength. Jaxon Kohler has been the Spartans' leading scorer this year, averaging 13.9 points per game, and this'll be a game that's in his wheelhouse.
Not a single player in Cornell's main rotation is taller than 6-foot-7, giving Kohler at least a three-inch height advantage over any of his defenders. One player is 6-foot-9, Ian Imegwu, but he only plays about five minutes per game.
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A 2025 graduate from Michigan State University, Cotsonika brings a wealth of experience covering the Spartans from Rivals and On3 to his role as Michigan State Spartans Beat Writer on SI. At Michigan State, he was also a member of the world-renowned Spartan marching band for two seasons.
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