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Michigan State Basketball: 5 fixes that could end ugly three-game losing streak

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MI - FEBRUARY 02: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans during a game against the Indiana Hoosiers in the second half at Breslin Center on February 2, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - FEBRUARY 02: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans during a game against the Indiana Hoosiers in the second half at Breslin Center on February 2, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
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CHAMPAIGN, IL – JANUARY 22: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans is seen during the game against the Illinois Fighting Illini at State Farm Center on January 22, 2018 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL – JANUARY 22: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans is seen during the game against the Illinois Fighting Illini at State Farm Center on January 22, 2018 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

3. Extend the bench

What happened to the promising freshman seasons of Marcus Bingham, Gabe Brown and even Thomas Kithier? All three have shown flashes of being adequate pieces to the Spartans’ puzzle, but none of them have truly stood out because, well, they’re not given the time of day.

Tom Izzo has trimmed the rotation far too much, especially after the injury to Josh Langford. Michigan State’s bench needs to be 8-9 deep if the Spartans are going to have any hope of a deep run in March, even if it’s just getting those guys playing experience.

It’s fairly obvious that the starters are being run ragged with each, besides Xavier Tillman on Tuesday night, playing more than 30 minutes. Tillman totaled 23 while Nick Ward added 29 off the bench. The only other player off the bench to see at least 10 minutes was Aaron Henry with 14.

Other than that, Brown played just three minutes and Foster Loyer had one.

Izzo needs to spread these minutes out more, get guys like Matt McQuaid, Kenny Goins and Cassius Winston rests. Brown has the talent to step in and make some shots and use that length on defense and Kithier has shown that he can be a poor man’s Matt Costello with a spark off the bench.

The bench needs to be utilized more because you just can’t win with seven guys.

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