Michigan State Basketball: 3 quick reactions from crushing loss to Illinois

1. Lack of leadership is hurting this team

Two years out from Cassius Winston, one of the best leaders Michigan State basketball has ever had, no one has yet to step up to take on that role. It hurts that neither of these point guards were under Cassius to learn that leadership role and see what it takes.

Others have the ability to be leaders of this team and still no one is taking on that role. Gabe Brown is a senior and has energy to be the leader but he is not taking that next step. Once the game is going he is not pulling guys aside and getting them back into the game.

Malik Hall is a captain of this team and he is also being shy. He is not rallying guys and corralling the Spartans when there is a foul or when the team is down big. The Spartans need a resilient leader in order to thrive.

The likes of Mateen Cleaves, Kalin Lucas, Keith Appling, Draymond Green, Tum Tum Nairn, and Cassius Winston have all been leaders of this team in the past. When they were seniors, they brought the team together and got into the huddle, and took charge. They took the blame for sloppy play even when they were not fully responsible for that.

No one on this team wants to take the hit and step up into the leader role this Michigan State team so desperately needs. If someone steps out of their comfort zone in these next few weeks to end the regular season and take over this leadership role good things will come for the Spartans. If no one does, it will be another early exit in the tournament.