Michigan State Spartans
Big Ten (22-9, 14-6)
Michigan State came into the 2019-2020 campaign as the team to beat. However, some bad luck in the injury department quickly took the Spartans out of the top spot in the nation and even out of the top 25. But this is Coach Tom Izzo’s team. They have the NCAA Tournament experience and the talent to make another push towards the Final Four.
Big Wins: 11/14 at Seton Hall (76-73), 1/17 Wisconsin (67-55), 2/29 at Maryland (78-66)
Bad Losses: 11/25 vs Virginia Tech (66-71), 1/12 at Purdue (42-71), 2/4 Penn State (70-75)
Coach: Tom Izzo
Why They Can Surprise:
This group does what most Coach Izzo teams do. They hit the glass very effectively and share the ball well. This year Michigan State often plays great defense and never makes it easy for the opposition to get a clean look at the basket too. Senior point guard Cassius Winston will often take over games, averaging 18.6 points, 5.9 assists and 1.2 steals. Much of the rest of the production comes from the frontcourt duo of Xavier Tillman and Aaron Henry. Tillman has had a sensational junior year, tallying 13.7 points, 10.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.2 steals and 2.1 blocks per game. He can fill up the stat sheet in a hurry. Aaron Henry, a 6-6 sophomore forward, is the other consistent scorer on the team, but Gabe Brown and Rocket Watts will occasionally add another scoring threat to the team.
Why They Can Disappoint:
By the numbers, this is a solid Michigan State team. The offense scores a point or two less than they did last year, but the defense has been a little bit better. The turnover margin is typically poor, but it is not as bad as it was last season and that group reached the Final Four. With upperclassmen leaders like Winston and Tillman, the Spartans have what they need to do it again. However, the rest of the roster is quite inexperienced. If the younger players make mistakes and are timid when it comes to shooting the ball, this group will have to rely too heavily on Winston and Tillman. They need others to step up and at least provide another scoring threat.
Probable Starters:
Cassius Winston, Senior, Guard, 18.6 ppg, 5.9 apg
Rocket Watts, Freshman, Guard, 9.0 ppg, 1.7 apg
Malik Hall, Freshman, Forward, 4.6 ppg, 3.7 rpg
Aaron Henry, Sophomore, Forward, 10.0 ppg, 4.6 rpg
Xavier Tillman, Junior, Forward, 13.7 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 3.0 apg, 2.1 bpg
Key Role Players:
Gabe Brown, Sophomore, Forward, 6.8 ppg, 3.6 rpg
Thomas Kithier, Sophomore, Forward, 3.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg
Kyle Ahrens, Senior, Guard, 3.6 ppg
Marcus Bingham, Sophomore, Forward, 3.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 75.9 (51st in nation, 2nd in conference)
Scoring Defense: 64.7 (50, 6)
Field-Goal Percentage: 46.1 (55, 2)
Field-Goal Defense: 37.9 (5, 1)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 7.7 (129, 8)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 34.8 (99, 3)
Free-Throw Percentage: 75.0 (51, 3)
Rebound Margin: 7.5 (12, 2)
Assists Per Game: 17.7 (2, 1)
Turnovers Per Game: 12.5 (118, 12)
Recent Postseason Appearances:
| 2019 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Bradley |
| 2019 | NCAA | Round of 32 win over Minnesota |
| 2019 | NCAA | Regional Semifinal win over LSU |
| 2019 | NCAA | Regional Final win over Duke |
| 2019 | NCAA | National Semifinal loss to Texas Tech |
| 2018 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Bucknell |
| 2018 | NCAA | Round of 32 loss to Syracuse |
| 2017 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Miami (FL) |
| 2017 | NCAA | Round of 32 loss to Kansas |
| 2016 | NCAA | Round of 64 loss to Middle Tennessee State |
| 2015 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Georgia |
| 2015 | NCAA | Round of 32 win over Virginia |
| 2015 | NCAA | Regional Semifinal win over Oklahoma |
| 2015 | NCAA | Regional Final win over Louisville |
| 2015 | NCAA | National Semifinal loss to Duke |
| 2014 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Delaware |
| 2014 | NCAA | Round of 32 win over Harvard |
| 2014 | NCAA | Regional Semifinal win over Virginia |
| 2014 | NCAA | Regional Final loss to Connecticut |
| 2013 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Valparaiso |
| 2013 | NCAA | Round of 32 win over Memphis |
| 2013 | NCAA | Regional Semifinal loss to Duke |
| 2012 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Long Island |
| 2012 | NCAA | Round of 32 win over St. Louis |
| 2012 | NCAA | Regional Semifinal loss to Louisville |
| 2011 | NCAA | Round of 64 loss to UCLA |
| 2010 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over New Mexico State |
| 2010 | NCAA | Round of 32 win over Maryland |
| 2010 | NCAA | Regional Semifinal win over Northern Iowa |
| 2010 | NCAA | Regional Final win over Tennessee |
| 2010 | NCAA | National Semifinal loss to Butler |
| 2009 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Robert Morris |
| 2009 | NCAA | Round of 32 win over USC |
| 2009 | NCAA | Regional Semifinal win over Kansas |
| 2009 | NCAA | Regional Final win over Louisville |
| 2009 | NCAA | National Semifinal win over Connecticut |
| 2009 | NCAA | National Final loss to North Carolina |
| 2008 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Temple |
| 2008 | NCAA | Round of 32 win over Pittsburgh |
| 2008 | NCAA | Regional Semifinal loss to Memphis |
| 2007 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Marquette |
| 2007 | NCAA | Round of 32 loss to North Carolina |
*all team stats through 3/8
