Michigan State Basketball: Predicting 2018-19 starting lineup

Michigan State basketball must now deal with a longer offseason than expected following a Syracuse loss. What will the starting lineup look like in 2018-19?

Michigan State’s season ended prematurely, but because of that, we can preview what the 2018-19 team will look like. Little victories, right? Sure, previewing next year’s team is something we probably thought we’d be doing in 2-3 weeks, but since the Spartans are out, the time has come.

There will likely be some major roster moves this offseason which means guys like Jaren Jackson Jr. and Miles Bridges will be off to the NBA as lottery picks.

Those will be two big (presumed) losses from the starting lineup — but who knows, maybe they’ll shock everyone and decide to come back for one more year, again.

As of right now, they look to be headed for bigger and better things and we will take a look at what the starting five will look like without them.

Many wanted to see Matt McQuaid in the starting lineup near the end of the regular season and during the Big Ten Tournament, but Tom Izzo went with his same starting five for the entire season. Entering his senior year with the green and white, McQuaid will finally see extended minutes and fans will get to see what he’s really made of.

The shooting guard has a decent stroke, making 39 percent of his 3-point tries and just 40 percent of his field goals as a whole, but with more opportunities, his confidence could skyrocket.

McQuaid is the type of player who needs more touches and more shot attempts to really trust himself to take the big ones. Sometimes he’s too hesitant to take open threes because he doesn’t get many opportunities and he shies away in order to get someone like Miles Bridges or Cassius Winston a look.

The senior will improve drastically on offense next season as he will be looked at as a dead-eye 3-point specialist for the Spartans as well as a defensive stopper.