Michigan State basketball: 3 massive benefits from Josh Lanford’s return

3. Guard depth was the missing piece

Heading into the offseason and following some big decisions and graduations, it was clear that the guard depth was the biggest concern.

In fact, Cassius Winston was leaving the program after four incredible seasons as the point guard and Kyle Ahrens was gone as a wing or two-guard. Then Aaron Henry declared for the NBA draft which eliminated yet another guard and there was no way to tell if Josh Langford would return for another year so all the hope rested on Karim Mane’s shoulders to commit.

When Mane, too, entered the NBA draft, almost all hope for more guard depth was smashed, especially with grad transfers listing Michigan State in their top schools and then never getting any further or committing.

But with Langford coming back, Michigan State gets that guard depth that it needs outside of Rocket Watts, Foster Loyer and AJ Hoggard. Gabe Brown could also play a little two-guard, if need be, and if Henry returns, that backcourt will be loaded. Mane would obviously be the cherry on top.

The missing piece for another Big Ten title run was the guard depth and now that we should see Langford back in the green and white, bringing Henry back and adding Mane would just be major bonuses.