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Michigan State Basketball: Final player grades for 2018-19 season

By Connor Muldowney

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 31: Kenny Goins #25, Xavier Tillman #23 and Aaron Henry #11 of the Michigan State Spartans huddle up prior to the East Regional game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 31, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 31: Kenny Goins #25, Xavier Tillman #23 and Aaron Henry #11 of the Michigan State Spartans huddle up prior to the East Regional game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 31, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – APRIL 06: Matt McQuaid #20 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts in the second half against the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the 2019 NCAA Final Four semifinal at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 6, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – APRIL 06: Matt McQuaid #20 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts in the second half against the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the 2019 NCAA Final Four semifinal at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 6, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

A-. . G. Senior. MATT MCQUAID

Josh Langford went down and Michigan State needed someone to step up. Luckily, Matt McQuaid was that guy. The senior held down the fort for his co-captain, boosting his points per game to nearly 10.0 on the season, topping out at 9.8.

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That may not seem like much, but for a guy who had been hesitant to shoot the ball throughout his entire career — despite having a great stroke — McQuaid really broke out of his shell and became a go-to player on the offensive side of the ball for the Spartans. He shot 43 percent from the floor and 42 percent from 3-point range on the season as well.

This was the McQuaid everyone had grown to expect when he committed as a “sharpshooter” out of Texas in 2015.

What about his defense? Well, he made the All-Big Ten Defensive team and was arguably the best defender on the team — Langford and Aaron Henry close behind.

McQuaid had no problem guarding each team’s top scorer and holding them in check — just ask Carsen Edwards.

The senior definitely earned that A- grade and he’ll be missed in 2019-20.

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