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Michigan State Basketball: 5 reasons Cassius Winston should return in 2019-20

By Connor Muldowney

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MARCH 15: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates after beating the Ohio State Buckeyes 77-70 during the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 15, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MARCH 15: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates after beating the Ohio State Buckeyes 77-70 during the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 15, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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DES MOINES, IOWA – MARCH 23: Aaron Henry #11, Cassius Winston #5 and Xavier Tillman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrate from the bench against the Minnesota Golden Gophers during the second 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 Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
DES MOINES, IOWA – MARCH 23: Aaron Henry #11, Cassius Winston #5 and Xavier Tillman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrate from the bench against the Minnesota Golden Gophers during the second 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 Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

4. Relationship with current team, coaches

If you know anything about Cassius Winston, you’d know that he’s one heck of a leader and a role model to the younger players. The underclassmen look up to Winston and he understands that and he would like nothing more than to return to continue to build those relationships with his teammates and coaches.

Tom Izzo called this the closes team that he can remember and some guys have a hard time giving up those relationships a year early when almost everyone is returning — plus, Winston would almost surely be a captain along with Josh Langford as seniors.

These guys play for each other and unselfishness is one the team’s best traits. Winston is the ring leader of that unselfishness and if you give him an opportunity to come back to play with essentially the same guys and continue those friendships for another year, he’ll more than likely take it.

Even Winston’s relationship with Izzo is improving and it’s something he wants to continue and keep learning through. The relationships he has developed in East Lansing could keep him in place for another year.

Miles Bridges said that if he had a choice (he was starting a family), he would have stayed at Michigan State all four years. Winston has that same mindset and will live out that wish for himself.

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