Michigan State Basketball: Preview of newcomers on 2020-21 Spartans roster

Michigan State Basketball has lost some talent from last year’s conference winning team. Who are the newcomers who will attempt to replace that production?

When you lose one of the best point guards in the history of your program, it seems like replacing him would be impossible. Cassius Winston leaves Michigan State Basketball as one of the most decorated Spartans of all time. Averaging 18.7 points and 6.7 assists per game over his last two seasons shooting 41.5% from 3 point range, his production will be hard to replace, but not impossible.

The Spartans also lose Xavier Tillman, the reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, as well as one of the best rebounders in the conference, who declared early for the 2020 NBA Draft. Tillman departs a year early after an incredible 2019-2020 season that saw him average 13.7 points and 10.3 rebounds per game, as well as 3.0 assists and 2.1 blocked shots. Tillman had an easy time matching up with the Big Ten centers he faced, locking down a number of talented big men.

Winston and Tillman were Michigan State’s top producers, and they might struggle to replace that production. But this is Tom Izzo we’re talking about, and it’s likely that he’ll eventually find the talent necessary to fill the holes that Winston and Tillman left. It’s also likely that a few of the newcomers on MSU’s roster will fill those roles.

Two freshmen and an incoming transfer, Izzo has his hands full with which talented players will fill the rotation. Let’s take a look at the newcomers who will look to make names for themselves as Spartans.