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Michigan State Basketball: 5 bold predictions for January 2019

By Connor Muldowney

LOUISVILLE, KY - NOVEMBER 27: Tom Izzo the head coach of the Michigan State Spartans gives instructions to Cassius Winston #5 against the Louisville Cardinals at KFC YUM! Center on November 27, 2018 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KY - NOVEMBER 27: Tom Izzo the head coach of the Michigan State Spartans gives instructions to Cassius Winston #5 against the Louisville Cardinals at KFC YUM! Center on November 27, 2018 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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EAST LANSING, MI – JANUARY 02: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans during game action against the Northwestern Wildcats at Breslin Center on January 2, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI – JANUARY 02: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans during game action against the Northwestern Wildcats at Breslin Center on January 2, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

2. Cassius Winston takes lead for Big Ten Player of the Year

Right now, there are a few guys in the race for Big Ten Player of the Year. Carsen Edwards, James Palmer, Charles Matthews, Ignas Brazdeikas, Juwan Morgan and Kaleb Wesson come to mind, as do Cassius Winston and Nick Ward.

The Spartans are fortunate enough to have two candidates and a third dark-horse in Josh Langford, but he has been out for the past two games with an ankle injury.

However, one is standing out above the rest as Winston is playing the best basketball of his career, assisting on 35 baskets with just five turnovers in the first four Big Ten games of the year. He’s also averaging 17 points per game in conference action and he’s shooting lights out.

After another solid month of play, which will include some more gritty road wins over teams like Penn State, Nebraska and either Iowa or Purdue, Winston will jump to the lead of the Big Ten Player of the Year race, topping the rest of his competition.

Things will only heat up in February, though.

I’m calling a month where Winston averages 18 points, 8.1 assists and only 1.5 turnovers while shooting 50 percent from the field and 45 percent from long range. Try stopping this kid from winning the award.

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