Spartan Avenue
Fansided

Michigan State Basketball: 5 reasons Spartans will beat Hurricanes

By Connor Muldowney

Mar 9, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Miles Bridges (22) dunks the ball as Penn State Nittany Lions guard Josh Reaves (23) looks on in the first half during the Big Ten Conference Tournament at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 9, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Miles Bridges (22) dunks the ball as Penn State Nittany Lions guard Josh Reaves (23) looks on in the first half during the Big Ten Conference Tournament at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 5
Next
Mar 1, 2017; Champaign, IL, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Matt McQuaid (20), guard Alvin Ellis III (3), guard Cassius Winston (5), forward Kenny Goins (25), and guard Miles Bridges (22) prepare to defend after a timeout during the second half against the Illinois Fighting Illini at State Farm Center. Illinois beat Michigan State 73 to 70. Mandatory Credit: Mike Granse-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 1, 2017; Champaign, IL, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Matt McQuaid (20), guard Alvin Ellis III (3), guard Cassius Winston (5), forward Kenny Goins (25), and guard Miles Bridges (22) prepare to defend after a timeout during the second half against the Illinois Fighting Illini at State Farm Center. Illinois beat Michigan State 73 to 70. Mandatory Credit: Mike Granse-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Role players will step up

Michigan State has gone too long without having consistent contributions from role players. And when I say role players, I mean anyone not named Miles Bridges or Nick Ward.

On Thursday, we ran a poll asking our followers on Twitter which player needs to step up in order for the Spartans to beat Miami and the overwhelming responses were for Cassius Winston and Josh Langford.

Langford is a guy who needs to get 10-plus shots up per game for the Spartans to see plenty of offensive success. In fact, the two games in which he’s shot the ball more than 10 times, Michigan State has won by 16 points and 27 points. He will step up and take more shots, proving more effective against the Hurricanes.

The freshman from Alabama won’t be the only one to step up as I feel as if a combination of Matt McQuaid, Winston and Ellis will have big games while Kyle Ahrens will hit a big 3-pointer off the bench.

It’s been a while since the role players were a consistent bunch, but that will all change on Friday night. Winston, in my opinion, will break out of that offensive slumber of his to deliver some clutch shots and drives to the hoop.

Home/Spartans Basketball