Even though we are right in the middle of the college football season, the college basketball season is right around the corner. The Michigan State Spartans are one of the teams that are getting ready for the season to start.
The Spartans have high expectations for this upcoming season and could open up as the preseason number 1 for the first time in program history and have most of the team coming back this year.
Returning for the Spartans this year is the all-Big Ten Player of the year from last year, senior guard Cassius Winston, who is expected to do some big things in his senior year at Michigan State. He averaged about 18 points a game last season for the Spartans.
The Spartans will also have Josh Langford back this year after the senior missed most of last season because of an injury. He is excited to return to action and is ready to get the season going. “I had an experience when I went to the Final Four, so it is not like I wasn’t there,” Langford said. “I was still a part of the team, and one thing about it is that my teammates and coaches made me feel apart of the experience. I do still feel like I played a part, just with encouraging guys,” Langford commented.
Also returning for the Spartans is junior Xavier Tillman, who is the reigning Big Ten Sixth Man of the year. He averaged 10 points a game last year for the Spartans. Also, sophomore Aaron Henry is back for the Spartans and is expected to be one of the best defenders in the Big Ten as well as the country this season.
Other players to watch for the Spartans are sophomore forwards Marcus Bingham, Gabe Brown, and Thomas Kithier, who all have a chance to get into the starting lineup this season. Expect Sophomore guard Foster Loyer to get some more playing time as well. Also, watch out for freshman Rocket Watts to possibly get more playing time as the season goes on.
Also, Spartan Head Coach Tom Izzo will have a chance to coach his son Steven Izzo. Izzo is a freshman this year on the team after graduating from Lansing Catholic last year.
When the season begins, the Spartans will have one of the toughest starts to the season in a while. After starting the season against Kentucky in the Champions Classic, The Spartans will travel to Seton Hall for Gavitt Tipoff Games on November 14th. After that, they will compete in the Maui Invitational before a huge matchup at home with Duke on December 3rd for the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.
The Spartans will also have nonconference games with Oakland University, Western Michigan University, and Eastern Michigan University before conference play resumes in January.
The Spartans will start the season on October 29th when they host Albion College in an exhibition game.