Michigan State Basketball: Cassius Winston named preseason All-Big Ten

Cassius Winston had a breakout sophomore season and was named to the preseason All-Big Ten team heading into the Michigan State basketball season.

Big Ten Media Days are here and while Tom Izzo has been lighting up social media with strong quotes regarding allegations of sexual assault cover-ups, Nick Ward and Cassius Winston were named to the preseason all-conference team.

Must Read: MSU basketball: Nick Ward named preseason All-Big Ten

The junior point guard had an incredible sophomore season with the Spartans, breaking out and taking over the No. 1 point guard job like everyone had expected and hoped for.

Winston saw his minutes increase by eight from his freshman season and his field goal percentage raised to 51 and 3-point rate was right around 50 percent. He was one of the biggest breakout stars in the conference and as long as he can improve his defense, he could be an All-American.

The Spartans will need Winston to grow even more and become the best point guard in the conference if they want to repeat as regular season champs but also to make a run at that elusive Final Four.

Foster Loyer will be the perfect player to push Winston and make him better. No, they won’t be competing for starting time as Winston has that locked up, but Loyer will be an offensive threat that Tum Tum Nairn wasn’t — though defense may be another story.

Will we see Winston grow into a conference player of the year candidate this season? Making the preseason All-Big Ten team is a good start and it shows that he’s already on people’s radars.