The Michigan State Spartans went through a very difficult season last year. They did not have dominant guard play and were very young elsewhere on their roster. This upcoming season figured to be better, but the Spartans needed one thing in particular to happen in order for them to become Final Four contenders.
That thing happened when Miles Bridges, widely viewed to be a first-round NBA Draft pick and possibly a lottery selection, chose to stick around for a sophomore season and make a run at a national title. Bridges is likely to be one of the five or six best players in college basketball this upcoming season. He gives Michigan State a chance to be great.
Offseason Changes
Jaren Jackson, who has bothersome defensive length at 6-11, is also a capable scorer. Having him on the floor with Bridges will give coach Tom Izzo an elite front court. The Spartans will be able to play over the top of smaller teams. They figure to be able to alter a lot of opposing teams’ shots and deny a lot of drives to the rim. Jackson’s court presence is expected to be that dynamic in East Lansing.
He will be joined by another newcomer, Xavier Tillman, who – if he lives up to his reputation as another heralded recruit, will give Michigan State the level of quality depth which was noticeably missing last season. The Spartans’ offense could bog down last season, but they also didn’t have the defensive consistency needed to reach the top of the Big Ten. With Jackson and Tillman in the fold, Michigan State could be strong enough on defense to withstand droughts on offense. The same couldn’t be said of last year’s team.
Will Succeed If…
The frontcourt is as overwhelming as the hype suggests it can be. The sure bet on this team is Bridges, a star who plays with dedication and leadership at both ends of the floor. He did not have a lot of help last season, but he learned a lot about how to carry himself in difficult situations. He has a great understanding of the game to begin with, but he now has an up-close awareness of how to improve his particular team and mesh with the current roster of players. Bridges should be able to make whatever adjustments are needed to suit Michigan State as the season evolves.
The bigger question is Jackson, who certainly has the body to play in the low post and be a defensive menace, but as Michigan State witnessed last season, immense talent doesn’t mean much if youthful confusion and overzealousness lead to lots of mistakes. Jackson, plus returning big man Nick Ward and Bridges, will make MSU very hard to deal with in the frontcourt… but they have to work smoothly together.
Won’t Succeed If…
The Spartans’ backcourt is weak with the ball and makes very poor decisions under pressure. Michigan State should be able to bring the ball up the court without turning it over. Then they can feed the low-post players and powering the ball inside. As long as Michigan State avoids too many turnovers, it should get the better end of the battle in terms of possessions per game. The Spartans will get more looks at the basket and can clean up their misses on the glass with a strong rebounding presence. The backcourt doesn’t have to be great. It just needs to be solid.
Roster
Kyle Ahrens
Joshua Langford
Jaren Jackson Jr.
Cassius Winston
Jack Hoiberg
Lourawls Nairn Jr.
Ben Carter
Brock Washington
Matt McQuaid
Miles Bridges
Xavier Tillman
Kenny Goins
Gavin Schilling
Braden Burke
Conner George
Nick Ward
Schedule & Outlook
The non-conference highlights: Duke and Notre Dame. In conference, the rest of the Big Ten is in flux, with former power Ohio State and brand name Indiana both expected to struggle. Some team should emerge as a challenger to Michigan State, but the Spartans make complete sense as the favorite in the Big Ten.
The 2018 March Madness futures are out. There has been plenty of news to keep up with in the offseason but keep an eye on the betting lines as they move around at Diamond Sportsbook! Get the latest college basketball betting lines right here.
