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Michigan State Basketball: Way-too-early projected starting lineup for 2020-21

By Connor Muldowney

Rocket Watts, Michigan State basketball (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
Rocket Watts, Michigan State basketball (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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EAST LANSING, MI – JANUARY 02: Gabe Brown #44 of the Michigan State Spartans looks to pass the ball against Andres Feliz #10 of the Illinois Fighting Illini during the first half at Breslin Center on January 2, 2020, in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI – JANUARY 02: Gabe Brown #44 of the Michigan State Spartans looks to pass the ball against Andres Feliz #10 of the Illinois Fighting Illini during the first half at Breslin Center on January 2, 2020, in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /

I went back and forth on this one because of how well Malik Hall finished his freshman season, but I think Gabe Brown’s ceiling is so incredibly high and he should improve drastically this offseason and it’ll be enough to give him the nod here. Also, I think Malik might be better as a stretch four but he could play on the wing if he develops a consistent jumper.

As for Gabe, he was voted by his peers as the most improved player this season and he began the year as a starting wing. That changed after he missed most of the Wisconsin game with an illness and never looked the same.

We saw spurts of greatness from the athletic 6-foot-7 wing, but he didn’t have that same confidence at the end of the season than he had early on.

Another offseason of working out and getting better will fix that as he looks the part of a star in this league, but just needs to put it all together. He has size, speed, athleticism, an excellent shot and the ability to create for himself. He’s an athlete and just needs to find his groove — obviously as a shooter, he can be streaky.

If he works on his defense again (it was better in 2019-20) and gets his confidence back, there won’t be anyone stopping him from starting at the three.

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