Michigan State Holiday Wish List 2018: Wish No. 18 for Spartan fans

Michigan State’s 25 wishes list continues today and will run for the next three weeks. What is the No. 18 wish for all Spartan fans?

Here is wish No. 18 on our Michigan State fan wish list as we count down to wish No. 1.

Wish No. 18

Michigan State to have, statistically, a top-five backcourt with Cassius Winston and Joshua Langford for the 2018-2019 season.

Last season as a junior, Cassius Winston averaged just under 13 points and seven assists per game. Josh Langford last season averaged just under 12 points per game and shot well from beyond the 3-point line.

This season, to compare, Langford is the leading scorer this season for the Spartans averaging just over 17 points per game where as he was the fourth-leading scorer last season. He’s shooting over 45 percent from 3-point range which is about five percent better than last season.

Winston is Michigan State’s second-leading scorer averaging 16.8 points per game 7.7 assists per game as well. Both players are logging a lot of minutes around 30 per game. The only negative for both is that they are averaging over two turnovers per game which isn’t horrible but definitely not great.

Besides Nick Ward, they are the only Spartans averaging double-digits in scoring per game. There is a strong argument for them being one of the top-five backcourts in all of college basketball.

There are other very talented and or experienced backcourt tandems in the country. The ACC, in particular, has some very productive and arguably great tandem guard play that can match or even surpass what Winston and Langford will do this season. However, it would be difficult to 100 percent disprove that Michigan State’s backcourt is not.

Spartan fans can see the leadership and the ability to make clutch baskets this season from Langford and Winston.

Former Spartan football defensive coordinator and current head coach of the University of Pittsburgh Pat Narduzzi once said, “Stats are for losers.” He may be right but more than likely he is wrong. The Spartan backcourt, besides their impressive statistical output so far this season, has shown quality consistent stats of a top-five backcourt but they also pass the ‘eye test’. They are playing with a purpose, demonstrating the ability to lead a dynamic and high powered offense and trying to prove that they are top-five worthy.

If indeed this wish were to come true, Michigan State fans’ expectations should not  just be to break the three-year curse of getting out of the first weekend of the NCAA tournament. Winston and Langford would lead this team to an Elite Eight appearance if this wish were to come true.

I would put the probability at 50 percent because after watching them play all season, they seem to have that look of a great backcourt ready to lead their team for a deep run in the NCAA Tournament. I would not put it over 50 percent at this point because there is some very impressive guard combos in college basketball this season. However, it is indeed the holiday season and here is to wishing for an Elite Eight appearance in the NCAA tourney lead by the one and only tandem of Winston and Langford.