Busting Brackets
Fansided

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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 5
Next
EAST LANSING, MI – DECEMBER 16: Gabe Brown #13 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates Xavier Tilman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans made basket at the end of the first half against Green Bay Phoenix at Breslin Center on December 16, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI – DECEMBER 16: Gabe Brown #13 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates Xavier Tilman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans made basket at the end of the first half against Green Bay Phoenix at Breslin Center on December 16, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

Top Players coming off of the Bench

Kyle Ahrens

Position: Small Forward

Year: Senior

Projected 6th Man

The only real question will be if Ahrens can have a full healthy season. He has displayed and demonstrated toughness and leadership last season. He is a well-rounded player who has good size and is tall enough to cover taller wings on the perimeter.  If he stays healthy this season, he can start some games as well. He can shoot the ball pretty well and he can runs well in transition. He could easily be named one of the captains for this season as he is a leader on and off of the court. On the high-end, he ends up being more productive offensively than Matt McQuaid was last season. It all depends on if he stays healthy but if he does, he can easily contribute in big ways and help lead the Spartans to a national title.

Gabe Brown

Position: Shooting Guard/Small Forward

Year: Sophomore

Projected 7th Man

Brown may see a big jump in playing time and points per game from last season. Izzo and the Michigan State coaching staff seem to be very high on his potential to contribute this season.  He will have to compete for playing time but there will be games where he will play well and see starter minutes this season.  He is confident on the offensive end and he has the athleticism to improve as a defender.

Brown and his ability to score can be very helpful in games where the Spartans run into a defensive-minded team like Texas Tech. When it is all said and done, Brown could have a future in the NBA similar to former Spartan Jason Richardson. The more playing time he gets, the better he will become.

Rocket Watts

Position: Point Guard/Shooting Guard

Year: Freshmen

Projected 8th Man

Watts has drawn comparisons of being a blend of former Spartans Kalin Lucas and Korie Lucious but taller. Maybe not the passer as Lucas was but he has explosiveness and drive when attacking the basket and can shoot from the outside similar to Lucious. He is a consensus top-35 recruit and will be asked to contribute as a true freshman.

Fair or not, Watts to a lesser extent is the most anticipated freshmen since Jaren Jackson Jr.  He is coming in as a consensus top-35 recruit with a very high upside. He will play one way or the other but the questions are how many minutes will he average per game and will he play more minutes at the 1, 2, or even 3 spot? Look for him to be the primary back up to Winston as well as see playing time early on at shooting guard as Langford works his way back into last season form.

Thomas Kithier

Position: Power Forward

Year: Sophomore

Projected 9th Man

Kithier contributed more than expected after having to sit out his senior year of high school due to transfer rules and regulations in the state of Michigan.  He was considered the less unheralded recruit from the five-man 2018 recruiting class for the Spartans but somewhat like Henry, he played with more confidence and composer than expected from a true freshman.

However, how much will Kithier contribute this season? Could he become the next Goran Suton who played well for Michigan State over a decade ago or will he end up more like former Spartan Adam Ballinger who was dependable and reliable during his time in East Lansing? Time will tell and Kithier needs to get the benefit of the doubt but Spartan fans shouldn’t expect a major impact from him this season.

 Malik Hall

Position: Power Forward/Small Forward

Year: Freshmen

Projected 10th Man

Hall according to 247 Sports, is the 55th top-ranked player in the 2019 class. At 6’7 he could play at the 4 if need be or play on the wing at the 3. The hope is that he can blossom like Henry did this season as a true freshman and contribute immediately. The expectation is that Hall is versatile to whereas he can play either the 3 or 4 spot and be productive on the offensive and defensive end.

Due to need, you can expect him to play power forward as a true freshman and then play more small forward the following season. He may not appear to be the strongest and biggest player but against teams that play more of a small ball system, you can easily see Hall playing up to 10 minutes in those games. He was recruited for a reason and he can turn in to the next Raymar Morgan or Durrell Summers for the green and white.  He has a bright future and will more than likely be a starter by his junior year at the latest.

Home/Michigan State Spartans