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Michigan State Basketball: Final player grades for 2017-18 season

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MI - JANUARY 4: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts during the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Breslin Center on January 4, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - JANUARY 4: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts during the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Breslin Center on January 4, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
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Michigan State basketball’s season ended on a low note, but the Spartans have earned some decent grades from the starters to the end of the bench.

Disappointing or heartbreaking? The 2017-18 season for Michigan State could essentially be characterized into one of those two categories, or even both.

The Spartans finished the year with 30 wins, but the fifth loss was the toughest. They weren’t able to overcome a scrappy Syracuse zone defense which held the Spartans to 53 points in a two-point loss. The Orange shocked everyone with the upset, heading to the Sweet 16.

Tom Izzo has missed the Sweet 16 in three straight seasons now and he has his work cut out for him in the 2018-19 season after potentially losing Miles Bridges and Jaren Jackson Jr. — although there’s a chance, albeit small, that one or both could return.

It’s time to reflect on the 2016-17 season, though. How did each Spartan grade this season?

B-. . SG. Sophomore. JOSH LANGFORD

Josh Langford had an up-and-down season but many were quick to jump on him during his tough times. He went through offensive lulls which affected his ability to defend, at times, as well. His confidence was hanging on by a thread at the end of the season, but saw almost a rebirth against Bucknell in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

The sophomore wing scored 22 points on 7-of-10 shooting which is what the Spartans are going to need out of him on a regular basis next season. However, he followed that up with a three-point performance against Syracuse on 1-of-12 shooting — the tourney was a microcosm of his up-and-down season.

Since he struggled mostly during conference play, he earns a B- grade. If he were to consistently scoring in double figures and shoot over 50 percent with regularity, we may even be talking about a B+, but he went through a long, tough stretch.

In fact, he scored at least 10 points in 13-of-18 games to start the year and then finished with six more double-digit games in the last 17. Izzo will need a more consistent Langford next year.

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