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Michigan State Basketball: Piecing together all-2010s starting five

By Connor Muldowney

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 16: Gary Harris #14 and Adreian Payne #5 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates after the 69-55 win over the Michigan Wolverines during the finals of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 16, 2014 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 16: Gary Harris #14 and Adreian Payne #5 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates after the 69-55 win over the Michigan Wolverines during the finals of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 16, 2014 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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PHOENIX, AZ – MARCH 22: Draymond Green #23 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts as he runs back down court in the second half while taking on the Louisville Cardinals during the 2012 NCAA Men’s Basketball West Regional Semifinal game at US Airways Center on March 22, 2012 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ – MARCH 22: Draymond Green #23 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts as he runs back down court in the second half while taking on the Louisville Cardinals during the 2012 NCAA Men’s Basketball West Regional Semifinal game at US Airways Center on March 22, 2012 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

I know, I know. Draymond Green started his career at Michigan State in another decade, but his final two years at Michigan State were good enough for him to make this list.

Technically, Michigan State’s 2010 Final Four season counts as this decade even though it began in a previous one. And Draymond was a sophomore on that team, averaging 9.9 points and 7.7 rebounds as he was already a vocal leader for the green and white.

That leadership only grew as Draymond entered his upperclassman years. As a junior, Michigan State may have lost in the first round, but it was the start of his rise to stardom in East Lansing. He averaged 12.6 points, 8.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists as he was a walking triple-double threat and that only continued in 2011-12.

As a senior, Green was a first-team All-American, Big Ten Player of the Year, NABC Player of the Year and Wooden Award finalist. He was also an All-Big Ten Defense selectee.

Draymond was all-everything and it’s too bad that his career ended without a national title — you know that Gordon Hayward missed foul call in the Final Four back in 2009-10 still haunts him.

Backups: Jaren Jackson Jr., Matt Costello

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