Michigan State Basketball: 3 final takeaways from 2020-21 season

Michigan State Spartans forward Gabe Brown (44) and Michigan State Spartans guard Rocket Watts (2) react after a play during the First Four of the 2021 NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 18, 2021, at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Ind. Mandatory Credit: Robert Scheer/IndyStar via USA TODAY Sports /

2 of 3

Mar 11, 2021; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Rocket Watts (2) controls the ball against the Maryland Terrapins in the first half at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Can’t win without a true point guard with experience

Cassius Winston was a saving grace, at times, over the few seasons before 2020-21. His departure was met with plenty of sadness with the way he was forced to go out and the fact that there was really no one ready to replace his role or minutes at the point guard spot.

Cassius was an all-time MSU great and he never got that fair shake at one final run at a national title thanks to COVID-19.

Losing him left a massive void at point guard and early on, fans believed that Rocket Watts could slide over from his normal two-guard spot seamlessly and take over as the point guard. It was more wishful thinking than anything because that wasn’t his natural position but AJ Hoggard and Foster Loyer were also there in a worst-case scenario.

But Watts struggled to adjust, Hoggard went through plenty of growing pains and Loyer continued to fall victim to mismatches against Big Ten point guards.

This season was proof that you can’t win games in the Big Ten or really in college basketball without a true point guard with at least some experience.

Home/Spartans Basketball