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Michigan State Basketball: 5 things to look forward to in 2019-20 season

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MI - DECEMBER 16: Gabe Brown #13 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates Xavier Tilman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans made basket at the end of the first half against Green Bay Phoenix at Breslin Center on December 16, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - DECEMBER 16: Gabe Brown #13 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates Xavier Tilman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans made basket at the end of the first half against Green Bay Phoenix at Breslin Center on December 16, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
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Michigan State basketball is a week away from opening its 2019-20 season in the Champions Classic. What do we have to look forward to?

The 2019-20 Michigan State basketball season is almost upon us and that can put fans out of their football misery — at least for the time being.

Michigan State comes into the season ranked No. 1 in the country with the nation’s best player on the roster, looking to become the first in college basketball history to reach 2,000 career points and 1,000 career assists. That could be quite the feat for Cassius Winston, but he has to stay healthy.

The injury bug has already bitten with Josh Langford and Kyle Ahrens out and Rocket Watts recovering, but if this team can play the way it did at the end of last season, big things are ahead.

What do we have to look forward to most in 2019-20?

5. Champions Classic

The easy choice would be the Duke game, but the Champions Classic features the top two teams in the country and it kicks off a much-anticipated 2019-20 season for all fans.

Who isn’t pumped for a little No. 1 vs. No. 2 action? Michigan State and Kentucky square off in the biggest non-conference game of the season in the Champions Classic.

This kicks off the regular season and all eyes will be on this matchup as the Spartans try to prove they’re worthy of that No. 1 ranking even thought Tom Izzo has never had that in the preseason before — no coach at MSU has.

Like always, Kentucky is loaded with young talent and one-and-dones and the Spartans have guys like Xavier Tillman and Cassius Winston who, when they’re giving full effort, are elite. They could both be first-round draft picks before it’s all said and done and that’s incredible given how far they’ve coming since freshman years.

If the Spartans can handle Kentucky and assert their dominance to open the season, it only grows that target on their backs — but that’s something this team has no problem welcoming.

The Champions Classic is fun to watch every year, no matter the opponent.

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