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

2. No shortage of returning, incoming talent

When you see a team lose two potential first-rounders, you would be led to believe that they would have little returning talent. How do you lose two first-rounders and recover?

Well, when you have guys like Rocket Watts, Joey Hauser, Josh Langford and Aaron Henry back as potential starters and role players like Marcus Bingham Jr., Gabe Brown, Malik Hall, Julius Marble, Thomas Kithier and Foster Loyer, talent isn’t lacking. Then you add in AJ Hoggard and Mady Sissoko and you’re looking at one of the most talented teams in the country, not just the Big Ten.

To replace Cassius Winston, you have Rocket and Hoggard to handle some point guard duties with Loyer looking to make that junior year jump. On the wing, Henry returns to provide experience and NBA talent there along with Brown and Langford.

To replace Xavier Tillman, the Spartans will turn to Bingham Jr., Marble, Hall, Hauser, Kithier and Sissoko. Most of those guys are power forwards, but Bingham Jr. and Sissoko will be favorites at center.

Michigan State has a handful of guys who could average in double figures next season and a few rim protectors and elite perimeter defenders. The Spartans have playmakers all over the floor and that’s going to ease the pain of losing Cassius and Xavier.

This will be one of the most talented teams in the entire country.