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Michigan State Basketball: 5 ways to turn 2019-20 season around

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MI - FEBRUARY 15: Cassius Winston #5 and Kyle Ahrens #0 of the Michigan State Spartans talk in the second half of the game against the Maryland Terrapins at the Breslin Center on February 15, 2020 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - FEBRUARY 15: Cassius Winston #5 and Kyle Ahrens #0 of the Michigan State Spartans talk in the second half of the game against the Maryland Terrapins at the Breslin Center on February 15, 2020 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
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EAST LANSING, MI – FEBRUARY 15: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans drives to the basket against Anthony Cowan Jr. #1 of the Maryland Terrapins in the first half of the game at the Breslin Center on February 15, 2020 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI – FEBRUARY 15: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans drives to the basket against Anthony Cowan Jr. #1 of the Maryland Terrapins in the first half of the game at the Breslin Center on February 15, 2020 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

3. Cassius needs to get back to attacking the basket

What’s the difference between this year’s Cassius Winston and last year’s? This year, he’s facing much more pressure to put the team on his back because he doesn’t have veteran leaders Kenny Goins and Matt McQuaid to help him out. On top of that, he’s not attacking the basket nearly as much as he did.

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It’s been a rough year mentally for Winston following the loss of his brother and while he’s had the occasional All-American game, he isn’t as aggressive as he was last year.

With so much pressure to be perfect on every possession, he’s more willing to pass the ball to Xavier Tillman or play off the ball with Rocket Watts or Aaron Henry handling it and it just doesn’t seem to be working as efficiently or effectively as it did last season.

When Michigan State’s offense is at its best, Cassius is attacking the basket, putting defenders on skates, putting the ball on a string and finishing at the rim with an incredible and-one or just fantastic finger-roll for two points. He hasn’t done enough of that this year as we’ve seen more mid-range jumpers after his first move to the hole hasn’t worked.

Michigan State needs Cassius to be more aggressive and, frankly, more selfish.

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