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Michigan State Basketball: Preview of Spartans 2019-20 season

By Ryan Kay

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MARCH 15: Xavier Tillman #23 and Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrate after beating the Ohio State Buckeyes 77-70 during the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 15, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MARCH 15: Xavier Tillman #23 and Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrate after beating the Ohio State Buckeyes 77-70 during the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 15, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 29: The Michigan State Spartans mascot performs against the LSU Tigers during the second half in the East Regional game of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 29: The Michigan State Spartans mascot performs against the LSU Tigers during the second half in the East Regional game of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

No team has higher expectations than Michigan State Basketball this upcoming season. Here’s what to look for with the highly talented Spartans.

Michigan State Basketball seniors Kenny Goins and Matt McQuaid, as well as junior Nick Ward from last season’s team, are all playing professionally overseas but the Spartans have a great core of experienced players coming back. This year’s team arguably will have more depth, healthier to start the season, more talent, and be more athleticism than last year’s team. The Spartans enter the season with the by many college expert accounts, the most valuable player in all of college basketball in Cassius Winston.

Winston as a senior is not only considered the best point guard in college basketball but may be the best Spartan point guard in school history after this season. Another senior, Joshua Langford who will be the starting shooting guard for Michigan State, is coming off of a season-ending injury. He and Winston will make the Spartan backcourt one of the best in the nation this year. The development of sophomore Aaron Henry who started the majority of games in Langford’s absence last season will allow Michigan State’s transition game to be even better than it was last season. In addition, the versatile big man and emerging superstar Xavier Tillman will be an enormous advantage in their pursuit for a national title this season.

Besides the four starters already mentioned, the Spartans will believe it or not, will have more depth this season in comparison to last season. Senior Kyle Ahrens who dealt will injuries throughout the season, showed tremendous grit and strength last season and will along with Langford and Winton provide incredible leadership.  The underclassmen, however, will make this year’s Michigan State the deepest it has been in years.

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Sophomore Gabe Brown showed growth towards the end of last season and in particular, against LSU in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA tournament. Sophomore big man Marcus Bingham Jr. who may end up being the 5th starter this season has terrific upside and more will be asked of him this year to fill the role vacated by the departure of Ward. Another sophomore Thomas Kithier will provide depth in the Michigan State frontcourt as he looks to take on the minutes that Goins had occupied from last season. The incoming freshmen also look to provide depth for this season.

As productive as Henry was this past year and even though Brown had an impact coming off of the bench as freshmen, two incoming freshmen will give the Michigan State some quality depth and scoring off of the bench and maybe even more. ESPN 100 Incoming freshmen Rockett Watts and Malik Hall will provide a spark off of the bench for the Spartans in 2019-2020 and Watts like Henry may start by seasons end if Michigan State suffers injuries like last season.

It is easy to see that the Spartans will have more talent, depth, and experience than they did last season. The freshmen and sophomores should blend well with the upperclassmen for the 2019-2020 season.

Let’s take a look at the projected starters for the Michigan State Spartans for the 2019-2020 season.

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