Michigan State vs Virginia: 5 significant storylines for 2020-21 matchup

Availability of Langford and Hauser

The importance of starters Joshua Langford (7 ppg) and Joey Hauser (11.5 ppg,10 rpg) to Head Coach Tom Izzo and Michigan State was on full display during their game versus Detroit Mercy. With Langford not dressing and Hauser being limited to 19 minutes, the Spartans pulled out an 83-76 victory in a game that was tied with 6:35 left. If Langford and/or Hauser are unavailable or limited in any capacity the Spartans will not be as fortunate versus Virginia.

Langford who is averaging just over twenty-five minutes per game in his first season since missing two due to two-foot surgeries was sidelined due to a sore knee. Coach Izzo was quoted in the Detroit News:

"“At this point in time in a year after playing 29 minutes (against Duke) and traveling, I just wasn’t going to take any chances,” Izzo said. “I told you guys I was going to do that, so don’t read into it. He’s playing on Sunday and he’s going to play on (Wednesday), and that’s the way it’ll be.”"

Coach Izzo also specifically mentioned that Langford not dressing was in no way management of minutes. In the world of sports, when something is denied, it is usually because it is true. If Izzo is indeed load managing Langford and it is beneficial, do not be surprised if this becomes a trend in college basketball.

The possibility of Hauser not being able to play significant minutes due to banging his knee late in the first-half versus Detroit Mercy would ruin what should be the main storyline, a match-up of the Hauser brothers.

Joey and Sam are both critical to their team’s offense and was the reason why Michigan State and Virginia were pitted against each other in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. With Langford playing 23 minutes and Hauser playing 27 Sunday versus Western Michigan, all eyes are focused on Wednesday.