Michigan State Basketball: Is Foster Loyer playing the right position?

Foster Loyer is in his sophomore year with Michigan State basketball. He is currently a backup point guard but is this where he should be playing for them?

Think about it: since becoming a point guard for the Spartans, Foster Loyer has struggled to produce. He struggles to handle the ball and run plays effectively enough to score. He turns the ball over, not being able to read where the rest of his players are going to be.

With this, Loyer has struggled to find his shot in college. If you go back and watch him in high school he would pull up from three and drain them. He is a shooter. He was able to run the point in high school but college in a whole new game. He cannot get the defenders off his back and create separation from them in order to give him enough space to pull up from long range.

When he does try to create separation, he does not get enough space and forces up a bad shot or he turns the ball over.

One thing I would love to see from Loyer is for him to play the two-guard spot. Bring him in to replace Rocket Watts, next to Cassius Winston. From there, treat Foster as a new Matt McQuaid — without the elite defense. Run him off ball screens and have the off ball players create the space for him to shoot a better-looking three.

He might not have the ideal size for a two-guard, but he has the shooting touch.

I only see this as beneficial for the program in many ways. The 3-point percentage has taken a hit this year and this could help. If Loyer can get open off ball screens and knock down those shots, that will open up the floor to let Xavier Tillman have more space to work down low.

This also allows Winston to have more space to operate because the defender will be forced to play tighter on Loyer and not able to double-team him with both guards. This will also help Winston because Loyer will be able to bring the ball up the floor letting Winston run in transition and getting lost down the floor.

You might be asking, If Loyer starts at the two who will come in and relieve Winston for a few minutes? This is where Watts comes in. He will make the transition to more of the point guard role and run the team.

Loyer is in the wrong spot on the floor when he’s in. Instead of playing the one, he should be playing the two-spot, coming off of ball screens and being used like McQuaid.

Good things are still to come, Spartan Nation, don’t give up hope this early into the season.