Michigan State Basketball: 10 bold predictions for 2018-19 season

EAST LANSING, MI - JANUARY 31: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans talks to Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans during a game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Breslin Center on January 31, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

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Putting the 2017-18 season behind it, Michigan State basketball has high hopes for the 2018-19 campaign. It’s time to get bold.

When that final buzzer sounded, effectively ending the Miles Bridges era, Michigan State basketball fans everywhere felt a sense of darkness creep in. Would the Spartans ever have a better chance to make a run at the national title?

Losing Bridges and fellow lottery pick Jaren Jackson Jr. seemed to put a damper on the immediate future of the program, but Tom Izzo kept a level head and he returns Nick Ward, Cassius Winston and Josh Langford. He has been the calm force behind the Spartans’ preseason No. 10 ranking and has fans feeling confident yet again about the team.

No, there are no superstars on this year’s squad, but slimmed down Xavier Tillman and Ward, a healthy Kyle Ahrens and five talented incoming freshmen could help matters and ease the pain of losing Bridges and Jackson Jr.

The 2018-19 season could be surprisingly special for the Spartans, but will we see a Final Four run for the first time since 2014-15? It’ll take a mammoth effort, but the talent is there to get the job done.

Michigan State is the favorite to repeat as Big Ten regular season champs, but don’t count out teams like Michigan, Purdue, Nebraska, Ohio State and Indiana. The league could be very even from top to bottom this season, which will give the Spartans quite the test.

How will the Spartans fare in 2018-19?

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