Busting Brackets
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NCAA Basketball: Preseason Top 25 teams for 2018-19

By Tristan Freeman

CINCINNATI, OH - FEBRUARY 17: Brunson and Bridges
CINCINNATI, OH - FEBRUARY 17: Brunson and Bridges /
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EAST LANSING, MI – JANUARY 31: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans talks to Cassius Winston
EAST LANSING, MI – JANUARY 31: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans talks to Cassius Winston /

11. Michigan State Spartans 30-5 (16-2)

2017-18 postseason result: Round of 32

Key losses: Miles Bridges (17.1 ppg and 7.0 rpg) – Jaren Jackson Jr. (10.9 ppg)

Key returnees: JR Cassius Winston (12.6 ppg and 6.9 apg) – JR Nick Ward (12.4 ppg and 7.1 rpg) – JR Joshua Langford (11.7 ppg)

Key incoming players: FR Marcus Bingham Jr. (No. 57 ranked recruit)

I’m going to make the call that Jaren Jackson Jr. won’t return next season, with him being projected as a lottery pick. Although that might be premature considering what Miles Bridges did last season. If the star freshman does return, the Spartans will be scratching the top-5.

Related Story: The legacy of Miles Bridges at Michigan State

Assuming Jackson leaves, Michigan State will still have both experience and talent with them.

The backcourt of Cassius Winston and Joshua Langford took big strides in their development in their sophomore years, and will make the Spartans more perimeter oriented this year.

The key player in all of this is Nick Ward. He averages a little more than 12 ppg in 19 minutes a night. But with potentially four forwards/centers leaving the team, his minutes are going to rise in his junior year. He’ll also become the only true post threat for Michigan State as well. If he struggles, the frontcourt could all of a sudden become a weakness for Tom Izzo’s group.

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