3 reasons Michigan State basketball still Big Ten favorite without Xavier Tillman

3. Aaron Henry is back

There were two big decisions to be made on Sunday and while one didn’t go Michigan State’s way, the Spartans got a major piece back in Aaron Henry.

No, Henry isn’t going to take over the team and average 20 points per game, but he has serious 13-15 points per game potential and if he can improve his jumper and cut down on turnovers, he might make the case for first-team All-Big Ten. He’s an elite defender but he needs to maintain his confidence throughout the course of the season.

Losing Xavier Tillman definitely hurts, especially in terms of veteran leadership, but Henry could grow into that type of role this season.

Henry hasn’t been looked at as a leader thus far, but that could change with Tillman and Cassius Winston gone. He will be looked at to step up vocally as well as athletically and I think he’ll do that and he’ll make a drastic jump as a junior.

When the NBA is your motivation and you came so close to reaching that goal, sometimes that’s all it takes to drive you to bigger and better things.