Ive got very high hopes for the 19-20 Spartans I agree that I think they will be better next year when its all said and done. Things are setting up a lot like 1999 into 2000 did 20 years ago for MSU.
1-10(1 being not missed at all/not important that he came back, 10 greatly missed/Coming back is key to winning)
Gone
PF Kenny Goins - Great rebounder, very solid defender, decent spot up shooter. Sadly I think Kenny had reached his ceiling at MSU. When his shot was off in the tourney he became a net negative on offense and on defense we saw how he could struggle when having to face more athletic players. All Time great walk-on, great kid, hit one of the biggest shots in MSU history. MSU will miss him but I think their are higher ceiling guys to follow. 5 - Will miss rebounding, dont have any sure fire stars at PF
SG Matt McQuaid - Great defender, great shooter, high character kid. Another huge player that stepped up this year Q was a great player to setup next time Cash. Another player that shows how great it is to watch a guy develop over a 4 year window. Huge BTT against UM showed just how good he could be when he was locked in. 3 - Great kid and good player MSU just has a ton of depth and upside on the wing
Wildcard
C Nick Ward - Great post-up game, elite in transition, solid defender in the post. Its no secret that Ward has been aggressively trying to get to the NBA. I think Ward is prolly 75% likely to head out and end up in the NBA G League to work on his game for the NBA. With Tillman emerging I think Ward knows he wont be getting 30 minutes and a featured role next year. 2 - I said on another I think Ward returning gives MSU a greatly higher floor and him leaving gives them a higher ceiling. Tillman at the 5 is ideal and we have a couple young guys that fit the mold at the 4 for MSU.
Projected Starters
PG Cassius Winston - All starts here with the reigning BT POY, one of the 2-3 guys that will be in talks for preseason POY in the nation. I dont think I need to list everything Cash can do everyone knows the story here. 10 - A must return for MSU's chances next year to make a run at a National Title
SG Josh Langford - The missing piece for MSU this year after getting hurt in Dec. He will add that missing wing player that can break down a defense when the sets are not working. Very good shooter, good defender on the wing, solid finisher, by all accounts he has been a great leader/extra coach while being injured. 8 - With Q going getting Langford back is big. Gives us a veteran starter with three years exp that does a lot of things great.
SF Aaron Henry - High level athlete with an improving jump shot and slashing game, improving rebounder as the year went on, and the skills to be a high level defender. We started to see him really shine on the biggest stage this year scoring 20 in the S16 vs LSU, being asked to guard two lotto players in Barrett and Culver. 8 - I think Henry oozes potential and can be the complete package. Very excited to see this Fr turn into a So.
C Xaiver Tillman - Elite defender, great in the pick and roll, improving range. Everything that Cash is to MSU on offense Tillman is to MSU's defense. MSU's best shot blocker, he can switch 1-5 and defend at a high level, he is MSU's middle LB. His post game was never prioritized to this point only getting 2-3 attempts in most games. I think we will see him get more chances as the main guy with his back to the basket. We also seen him attempt some three as the year went on. I think MSU will hope to see a Goins like improvement over the course of next year. 10 - The only big man on the team with a lot of exp and your best defender. I think Tillman will be just as important as Cash to MSU's title hopes
Reserves/PF Battle
PF Marcus Bingham Jr - Big time athlete, 3 Pt range, skinny as a rail. The poor mans Jaren Jackson was a Fr and couldnt get onto the floor due to a lack of strength and defensive ability. Hopefully a summer in the weight room can fix a lot of that. He is the ideal player I think Izzo would like to see step up and win the job. At 6-11 and crazy long he gives you that 2nd big guy with range and great help side shot blocking Izzo loves to have at the 4. 6 - You will hear this a lot but the best thing about Fr is they turn into So and it might apply to him more then anyone on this team. Getting 15 minutes out of him will be key to give MSU the depth down low they need
SF/PF Malik Hall - Incoming Fr Hall is your classic new school four at 7-6 he can be a taller wing or a smaller four. A more polished college ready player that I can see pushing Bingham for minutes at the 4. With the depth MSU has at the wings I expect all of his minutes to come as a small ball 4 this year. 5 - The lack of Depth at the 4 makes him more important then the other Fr coming in for this year I think.
SF - Kyle Ahrens - Solid shooter and deceivingly good athlete. If Izzo wants to get a little wild I could see MSU starting Ahrens also and letting Henry guard 4's on defense and then letting Ahrens take the ball out and play the 4 on offense. With the depth at wing and lack of Exp at PF this is the best solution to getting minutes for for all of them. 4 - I think Ahrens is in a weird spot fit wise. Not big enough for PF and out classed by Henry/Langford. Then you have Brown a 6-7 wing with lots of upside also.
Reserves
PG Foster Loyer - The tiny PG that comes in 2nd to Bingham for Fr that most needs a summer to get college ready. A great passer and shooter in high school that was not really able to show it because of a lack of strength and size. This will be a big summer for him with a more college ready combo guard coming in. 3 - MSU needs to find a guy that can back up Cash and get his minutes down to the 30-32 area. Loyer is one of two guys up for the jump.
PG/SG - Rocket Watts - Incoming combo guard, big time scorer, D will need some work, college ready body. Will be in a battle with Loyer for PG time and with Brown/Ahrens for backup wing time. I think where and how much time he gets with this team is hardest to project at this point. 2 - Ill default to Loyer the PG thats been in the system and has a summer to end up being the more important backup PG. I think whatever you get from Watts ends up being a bonus but is not needed for this team to do big things.
SG/SF - Gabe Brown - Never met a shot he didnt love, big time 3 Pt shooter, great athlete. Another Fr that needs a summer of strength to get his defense to college level. This is should be the number one spark of the bench guy next year for MSU. Once he gets his defense to that level Izzo can trust him he should become a big peace of the puzzle. Also a guy that should battle Henry for best wing rebounder on MSU. 6 - Gotta have trustworthy guys off the bench that can get you buckets and stops when need be and he has all the tools needed to make a big jump.
PF/C - Julius Marble - Incoming Fr late blooming big man. With PF minutes being up for grabs he has a shot but prolly the least likely player to get minutes next year. I think he ends up as more of a 5 then a 4 for MSU so he will have to beat out Kithier for backup big minutes. 1 - Extra body for foul trouble and good motivation for the other young bigs to help them earn playing time.
C - Thomas Kithier - Solid Fr year I think. Showed good D in spots and had some nifty finishes around the basket. I think he is the player most likely to surprise fans next year. I think he gives MSU 15 solid minutes at the 5 and keeps Tillman's minutes in the 25-27 range. 4th of the 5 FR class that should be able to put this summer to good use. 6 - Your 2nd most reliable big man and the better he gets the more you will be able to use Tillman at the 4 if need be.
This team has almost everything you want if your an MSU fan. Top level Sr PG, high level wing defenders and scorers, a Elite defensive C who can put up 10/10 with it, an Exp team 3 Sr's, 1 Jr, 5 So, 1-2 Fr will make up the main playing group.
