MICHIGAN STATE PROJECTED STARTERS
PG Cassius Winston, 6-0, sophomore
This is Winston?s show now. He?ll start and play the bulk of the minutes at point guard. He?s a smooth offensive player, with great vision and feel and he?s also one of MSU?s best shooters. The questions with Winston are on the defensive end. If he can be a serviceable defender, his offense becomes a tremendous advantage.
SG Joshua Langford, 6-5, sophomore
Langford?s freshman season fell short of expectations. Maybe those expectations were a bit overblown. He?s a better offensive player than he?s shown to this point ? with an old-school game and terrific ball-handling ability. He does not always shoot and play with confidence, and he lets his shot impact his body language. He?s an essential part of this season, on both ends of the court.
SF Miles Bridges, 6-7, sophomore
Bridges moves from power forward to the wing this year. That should be a more natural fit, though he didn?t handle the ball well enough as a freshman to flourish as a guard. If he does now, he?ll truly be a superstar. Bridges? length and size should be a headache on both ends for 95 percent of the players he?s matched up against.
PF Jaren Jackson Jr., 6-11, freshman
Jackson gives the Spartans a combination of length and skill at power forward they?ve never had before. With Bridges on the wing and Jackson at the 4-spot, the Spartans will feel like a sizable Kentucky team to opponents. Jackson?s versatility is almost unfair. He can hit step-back 3s, drive the basketball or comfortably pass from the post. MSU mostly just needs him to stay active with his hands and wingspan.
C Nick Ward, 6-8, sophomore
The arrival of Jackson gives Spartan fans a new toy to fawn over. But Ward is still MSU?s behemoth in the post. There are very few people on earth who can score the basketball on the low block as well as Ward can. Defense and consistent energy will determine whether he plays 20 minutes a night or more.
