Michigan State Basketball: Projected 2020-21 starting 5 post-NBA decisions

All eyes will be on the center position, and there’s a case to be made for all the Spartans’ bigs heading into the season.

However, entering the season, the job is Marcus Bingham Jr.’s to lose. If he doesn’t begin the season as the starting center, that either means Mady Sissoko or Julius Marble progressed faster than anyone expected or Bingham Jr. just hasn’t figured it out yet.

For the sake of his progression, we’re going to assume he takes that next step, adds a few more pounds, bulks up and takes the reins at the center spot with Xavier Tillman gone.

This is a telling year for Bingham Jr. If he takes over at center and keeps the starting job all year, he could find that confidence he’s been looking for and become a threat on both ends of the floor. He showed plenty of flashes on defense last season — just ask Kofi Cockburn — but his offense could use a ton of work.

In fact, he averaged 3.5 points per game as well as 3.6 rebounds and 1.4 blocks. He was a much bigger factor on defense than offense as he shot just 40 percent from the floor and only 18 percent from the 3-point line. That needs to change if he’s going to make a huge year three leap, a-la Adreian Payne.

The talent and potential are there, but he needs to prove he can handle the workload.