Spartan Avenue
Fansided

5 reasons Michigan State basketball is still No. 1 without Josh Langford

By Connor Muldowney

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 06: Xavier Tillman #23 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: Xavier Tillman #23 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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 5
Next
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) /

4. Sophomore class will show major improvement

From top to bottom, Michigan State’s sophomore class has a chance to be special, especially next season or in 2021-22 as seniors.

The Spartans landed a big class with Aaron Henry, Gabe Brown, Marcus Bingham Jr., Foster Loyer and Thomas Kithier and each one of them has a chance to do big things this season.

Henry was easily the star of the class last year, taking over in the starting lineup when Josh Langford was ruled out indefinitely in the winter and he’ll have the same effect this time around. He has a chance to be one of the team’s best NBA prospects and his athleticism, defensive ability and improved shooting and knack for getting to the hole will be critical for success.

Brown had a big NCAA Tournament and is only going to get better this season. He’s been the talk of the offseason as one of the team’s biggest gym rats and a guy who is always striving to get better. He could be a three-and-D guy for the Spartans this season like Matt McQuaid was.

Bingham Jr. is a projected starter and if he can live up to his sky-high potential, he could be a Jaren Jackson Jr.-type player for the Spartans. There will be growing pains, but I see Bingham Jr. breaking out as a sophomore in the post because, well, he has to.

Loyer receives plenty of flak for not being a bigger guard and just doesn’t have the college-ready body people want to see from the position, but he’s bulked up this offseason and should be able to effectively take pressure off Cassius Winston.

Lastly, Kithier is another guy who could start in the post and he brings that energy to the power forward spot the way Matt Costello did. I see him taking a major step forward this season.

The 2018 recruiting class is going to be huge for the 2019-20 Spartans.

Home/Spartans Basketball