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Michigan State Basketball: 3 breakout candidates for 2021-22 season

By Connor Muldowney

Mar 7, 2021; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Michigan State Spartans forward Malik Hall (25) celebrates with forward Marcus Bingham Jr. (30) and forward Gabe Brown (44) during the second half against the Michigan Wolverines at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 7, 2021; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Michigan State Spartans forward Malik Hall (25) celebrates with forward Marcus Bingham Jr. (30) and forward Gabe Brown (44) during the second half against the Michigan Wolverines at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /
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Michigan State’s Marcus Bingham Jr., right, moves with the ball as Julius Marble II defends during open practice on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.211002 Msu Open Practice 211a
Michigan State’s Marcus Bingham Jr., right, moves with the ball as Julius Marble II defends during open practice on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.211002 Msu Open Practice 211a /

I’ve been driving this Marcus Bingham Jr. bandwagon for years and I feel like I deserve a handsome tip because there have been times when I was driving alone. Bingham Jr. has had a roller-coaster Michigan State career and it has been far from sunshine and roses for the senior center from Grand Rapids.

Bingham Jr. is fresh off a solid junior season but he didn’t quite “break out”, averaging 3.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game. He’ll be a rare “breakout” senior in 2021-22.

Every year, we hear about Bingham Jr. hitting the weight room hard and stepping up in the offseason, but when Tom Izzo said that on Wednesday, it felt different. He said that the light has gone on and his focus this summer has been “phenomenal” which is a great development.

Bingham Jr. is now a member of the 7-foot club after growing an inch in the offseason and his length has been a problem for opponents throughout his career. He’s a block machine and he’s going to play huge minutes this season at center. Michigan State needs him to break out and I think he’s finally going to realize his potential.

I wouldn’t be at all shocked if Bingham Jr. developed a 3-point shot again and averaged a double-double with nearly three blocks per game in 2021-22.

Next. 3 reasons Mel Tucker won't leave Michigan State for LSU. dark

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