Michigan State Basketball: 5 reasons Spartans will beat LSU in Sweet 16

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DES MOINES, IOWA – MARCH 23: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans drives to the basket against Dupree McBrayer #1 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers during the first half in the second round game of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena on March 23, 2019 in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

3. Cassius Winston wins battle of the point guards

As long as Cassius Winston is donning the green and white, he’s always going to be a major reason the Spartans come out on top in big games. He was the reason the Spartans were able to outlast Bradley and also put Minnesota to bed for good in the round of 32.

Michigan State needs a big game out of Winston against LSU and he’s going to give it just that. Although Tremont Waters is a solid defender and averages 3.0 steals per game, Winston has faced strong point guards all season long, including Big Ten all-defensive teamer Zavier Simpson and dominated him three times.

If you think Winston is the same player he was last season who would fold in big games, think again. This kid has ice water in his veins and knows how and when to take over.

Waters is a talented kid for the Tigers and he’s arguably their most important player on Friday night, but he’s not Cassius. He can score and use his athleticism to drive, but he can’t shoot, pass, drive, create and run the floor quite like Winston.

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