Michigan State Basketball: 3 bold predictions for battle at No. 13 Ohio State
2. Marcus Bingham Jr. has a statement game
After what could be argued as his best game of the season against Rutgers, Marcus Bingham Jr. had to feel cheated. He was forcing plenty of bad shots and turnovers from the Scarlet Knights and was clearly the best big man the Spartans had on the floor. However, Tom Izzo decided he only deserved 19 minutes while he played Thomas Kithier about 12 minutes.
Just look at these discrepancies in defensive performances from Bingham Jr. in the post and Kithier and you tell me who should be starting and getting 25-30 minutes a game:
When Marcus Bingham is on the floor opponents shoot 51.7% at the rim. When he is off they shoot 58.7% at the rim.
— 6'3 215 (@Wil__Hunter) January 30, 2021
When Thomas Kithier is on the floor opponents shoot 66.3% at the rim. When Kithier is off the floor opponents shoot 52.2% at the rim.
Yes, the answer is Bingham Jr.
Michigan State needs another big game from a big and Bingham Jr. will provide that and he’s going to play 20-25 minutes. He’ll break out with 11 points, eight rebounds and three blocks, locking up that starting center job for the rest of the season — or at least he should.
Bingham Jr. will make yet another statement on Sunday afternoon and if this trend continues, he could potentially turn his career around, starting against the Buckeyes.