Michigan State Basketball: Preview of Spartans 2020-21 season

Overview for 2020-21

Michigan State has enough returning talent coming back to East Lansing as well as having two starters play who were unable to do so last season in Hauser and Langford to be mentioned as one of the favorites to win the Big Ten regular-season and tournament title again this season.

However, losing Winston to graduation, and Tillman leaving early for the NBA draft, no longer makes Michigan State one of the top favorites to win the national championship in 2021. Though, with Watts, Henry, and Brown returning as well as having a healthy Langford and a now eligible Hauser, this Michigan State team can make a Final Four run in contrast to popular belief.

The Spartans have a dynamic foursome in their starting lineup and will once again have that business-like mentality as they did last season. The overall experience and depth in particular are what will allow this Michigan State team to exceed expectations.

Brown, Hall, and company coming off of the bench will make this season’s team the deepest and most experienced from one to twelve on the roster that it has been in years. Regardless if Bingham ends up being the starting at center for the majority of the season or not, Hall, Marble, and Sissoko can fill in on the frontcourt and make the Spartans have no noticeable weaknesses for opposing teams to take advantage of this season.

Izzo and his coaching staff don’t have a  group of senior leaders like in years past but they have Langford as a 5th year senior and seven juniors helping led and guide this team for this upcoming season. Michigan State has an experienced versatile player in Henry, an emerging scoring and potential defensive lockdown defender in Watts as well.

The important part for the rest of the college basketball nation to take notice of is that two very talented players in Langford and Hauser can’t necessarily replace Winston and Tillman but the Spartans will not have as big of a drop off as some are anticipating.

Brown and Watts can easily emerge as scoring machines making the Spartan transition offense almost unstoppable. The depth and experience on the frontcourt are very underrated and the Spartan big men should prove many fans and college experts wrong with their production this season.

Once again, Michigan State has a very difficult non-conference schedule that will test them beginning in the upcoming weeks. Yes, the Spartans need Langford to stay healthy and to be able and have him be able to go through the tough Big Ten grind to win the Big Ten title once again.

Also, Hauser and Watts should rise to the occasion and exceed personal goals and expectations and Henry will have his breakout season on the offensive end this year as he will have more opportunities and be encouraged more often to shoot the ball.

Some doubt Watts being able to take over the point guard position but those who underrate him need to watch his last four games from last season. Others feel that Tillman leaving early for the NBA draft limits the Spartans this season down low but Michigan State has five legitimate big men that have not even come close to reaching their full potential.

Izzo and his team just need to keep that business-like mentality amongst this pandemic-shorten season and focus on winning another Big Ten title and gain momentum to make a Final Four run in the NCAA tournament.