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Michigan State Basketball: 5 biggest concerns entering 2018 NCAA Tournament

By Connor Muldowney

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 03: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts in the second half against the Michigan Wolverines during semifinals of the Big 10 Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 3, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 03: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts in the second half against the Michigan Wolverines during semifinals of the Big 10 Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 3, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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EAST LANSING, MI – JANUARY 31: Joshua Langford #1 of the Michigan State Spartans handles the ball while defended by Shep Garner #33 of the Penn State Nittany Lions in the first half at Breslin Center on January 31, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI – JANUARY 31: Joshua Langford #1 of the Michigan State Spartans handles the ball while defended by Shep Garner #33 of the Penn State Nittany Lions in the first half at Breslin Center on January 31, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

3. Josh Langford’s lengthy slump

Everyone has been quick to jump off the Josh Langford bandwagon during his current slide. He hasn’t scored in double figures in back-to-back games since Feb. 6, and that’s concerning given the fact that his “bad” games earlier in the season resulted in him scoring eight or nine points.

Now, his bad games are six points or less. He’s been quiet and his usually on-point mid-range jumper has been brick city. He has scored in double figures just one time in the past seven games and the last time he shot over 50 percent from the field on more than five shots was Feb. 6 as well.

After a decent start to Big Ten play, Langford has been off for about two months now. Even when he was scoring in double figures during a four-game stretch in late-January and early-February, he shot 40 percent or less three times.

This slump is more of a mental thing at this point, given the fact that he’s no longer looking to take his shots like he used to. Moreover, he needs to trust his 3-point stroke more instead of dribbling into a contested mid-range jumper.

Langford’s slump is a major concern.

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