Michigan State Basketball: 3 biggest concerns heading into 2020-21

2. Post defense

Losing Xavier Tillman is going to hurt. Like really hurt.

Not only does this make Michigan State’s post defense a little less intimidating (or a lot less) but it also takes away a leader with experience down low. His IQ in the post on the defensive end of the court was incredible and that’s something that these younger guys will have to develop in a hurry.

Guys like Marcus Bingham Jr. and Mady Sissoko show a ton of promise. The former is a veteran who has to put on some good weight and work on his offensive game, but we saw in 2019-20 that he can be a plus defender as he shut down Kofi Cockburn in East Lansing when Tillman was on the bench. Sissoko is a freshman who is known for being an elite rim protector. So that might ease a little of the concern there.

Still, after Sissoko and Bingham Jr., who will step up?

Joey Hauser isn’t exactly known for his defense and Thomas Kithier has a ways to go. Julius Marble and Malik Hall have plenty of potential, but are they ready to defend some of the nation’s best bigs? It’s a major concern.

Losing Tillman raises some post defense concerns.