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Michigan State Basketball: 3 breakout candidates needed for tourney run

By Emmett Matasovsky

EAST LANSING, MI - JANUARY 29: A.J. Hoggard #11 and Max Christie #5 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates in the second half of the game against the Michigan Wolverines at Breslin Center on January 29, 2022 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - JANUARY 29: A.J. Hoggard #11 and Max Christie #5 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates in the second half of the game against the Michigan Wolverines at Breslin Center on January 29, 2022 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
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Michigan State basketball needs the right guys to step up in the NCAA Tournament if it wants to make a deep run.

On Friday night, the Michigan State Spartans tip off against the Davidson Wildcats. This game is an intriguing matchup for the Spartans, as they play their former point guard and captain, Foster Loyer. Michigan State started off hot, going 14-2 to open the year. Since then, they have struggled, limping to a 20-11 regular-season record.

In the Big Ten Tournament, MSU regained its confidence, advancing to the semifinals. Even in the tough loss to Purdue, the Spartans showed themselves as a true Tom Izzo-led team, as they lost point guard Tyson Walker for the entire game, while the other point guard, AJ Hoggard, played the entire second half on a rolled ankle.

Now, however, the Spartans can no longer afford moral victories. One more loss and the Spartans go home, whether it is to Davidson Friday night or to the winner of Duke-Cal State Fullerton on Sunday. The Spartans do not have a go-to scoring option, as this team scores by committee, as every TV announcer will say when you watch the Spartans.

That being said, Gabe Brown and Malik Hall have each proved themselves as scoring options for the Spartans. Brown appeared to have his confidence back in the Big Ten Tournament, and he has proven he will show up for the tournament before, such as his 15-point performance in 16 minutes played against LSU in the 2019 Sweet 16. Hall is another player who consistently shows up for this team, ranking third in points per game for the Spartans despite only starting seven games.

These two will need to show up for the Spartans to make a run and bust some brackets, but who are some of the younger names on this roster who could step up?

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