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5 reasons Michigan State basketball will be back in 2020 Final Four

By Connor Muldowney

Cassius Winston, Michigan State basketball (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
Cassius Winston, Michigan State basketball (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 29: Gabe Brown #13 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates a three point basket against the LSU Tigers during the first half in the East Regional game of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 29: Gabe Brown #13 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates a three point basket against the LSU Tigers during the first half in the East Regional game of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

3. Second-year players will take next step

If Michigan State is going to experience another deep run in the NCAA Tournament, it’ll need its young guys from the 2018-19 season to step up and take that leap as sophomores.

Let’s start with Aaron Henry. He improved throughout the entire season and now he’s earning recognition as one of the nation’s top wings heading into next season. He looks like a star in the making and has already taken that next step and proved it in the NCAA Tournament.

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Next, there’s Gabe Brown who helped the Spartans beat LSU in the tourney to advance to the Elite Eight. He had a career game along with Henry and showed just why he was so highly-regarded out of high school. He can be a sharpshooter for the Spartans in 2019-20 and just needs to improve that defense.

Thomas Kithier showed flashes as well and was a decent contributor during the regular season, but didn’t see many minutes late. He has the potential to be a Matt Costello-like player with a strong offseason.

Foster Loyer is a tough player to judge. He’s an undersized point guard who isn’t exactly the most athletic kid on the floor, but he can shoot it. He’ll be looked at to take that next step and back up Cassius Winston adequately in 2019-20. He’ll need more muscle and confidence for that.

Lastly, Marcus Bingham Jr. has been labeled as a kid with the highest ceiling of the bunch but saw little action as a freshman. He needs to step up as a sophomore and he could even win a starting job with Nick Ward gone. If he takes that next step, watch out.

This talented group of soon-to-be sophomore will be much-improved.

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