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Michigan State Basketball: 2019-20 keys to victory over Seton Hall in Gavitt Games

By Austin Walther

EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 10: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans hugs Cassius Winston #5 during the second half against the Binghamton Bearcats at Breslin Center on November 10, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 10: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans hugs Cassius Winston #5 during the second half against the Binghamton Bearcats at Breslin Center on November 10, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – APRIL 06: Xavier Tillman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans shoots the ball against Jarrett Culver #23 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the second half during the 2019 NCAA Final Four semifinal at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 6, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by NCAA Photos – Pool/2019 Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – APRIL 06: Xavier Tillman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans shoots the ball against Jarrett Culver #23 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the second half during the 2019 NCAA Final Four semifinal at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 6, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by NCAA Photos – Pool/2019 Getty Images) /

3. Deep frontcourt

If there’s one thing Michigan State is very tough to defend on is crashing the boards. Xavier Tillman may be one of the best rebounders in the country listed below six-foot-ten. He’s a load at six-foot-eight, 245. Tillman had to play behind a lottery pick and another NBA player in his first year. He played second fiddle as a sophomore and now the front court is all his. As the season goes, he’s going to rack up the double-doubles.

With Nick Ward, Jaren Jackson and Kenny Goins all gone, it’s next man up for Michigan State. The Spartans were a little frustrated last season with their top-recruit Marcus Bingham and how he didn’t seem to catch on. He’s enjoying the increase of minutes now. Bingham played 17 minutes against Kentucky, recorded six boards and seven points. He matched the rebounding total and scored double-figures in five fewer minutes against Binghamton.

Tom Izzo is trusting the six-foot-eight forward Thomas Kithier who only averaged less than six minutes last season to start. Kithier has six boards in two games. Conner George had a nice performance against the Bearcats also. He’s always been used in garbage time, but he made the best of it with four boards in four minutes.

Seton Hall may already be thinned out if Myles Powell doesn’t go. The Pirates have two nice sized big men coming off the bench, but they don’t have the depth of lengthy guys likes Michigan State.

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Gabe Brown and Malik Hall are both six-foot-seven reserves. Hall is a four-star that was brought in to play power forward. Then there’s Kyle Ahrens coming off the bench who plays like a guard but is listed at six-foot-six. These guys certainly should use their length to their advantage against a smaller Pirates team.

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