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

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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – APRIL 06: The Michigan State Spartans huddle prior to the 2019 NCAA Final Four semifinal against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 6, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

1. This team has incredible depth

Name a deeper team in college basketball. That’s right, you can’t.

Michigan State is arguably 12 deep and that’s not being generous but rather realistic. The Spartans have this group of players (tell me who won’t play):

Cassius Winston
Aaron Henry
Xavier Tillman
Marcus Bingham Jr.
Gabe Brown
Thomas Kithier
Foster Loyer
Rocket Watts
Malik Hall
Julius Marble
Kyle Ahrens
Joey Hauser (potentially)

That’s a deep team and that’s not even including if Josh Langford returns in January. Having 12-13 guys who can play meaningful minutes goes a long way for title aspirations.

Michigan State’s depth has been solid in recent years but this might be the deepest team Tom Izzo has ever had. He’s had more talented teams (such as the 2017-18 group) but even that group wasn’t this deep.

There are NBA prospects, future prospects, young guys and veterans littered across the roster and that’s going to work wonders when the team takes the floor in November, looking for a replacement for Langford.

dark. Next. MSU Football: 5 bold predictions for October

Not many teams can lose a preseason All-Big Ten candidate and have 2-3 potential replacements ready to step up. Michigan State is not most teams.

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