College basketball 2017-18 preseason Top 25

By Chris Stone | Nov 8, 2017

BARCELONA, SPAIN - AUGUST 16: Allonzo Trier #35 of the Arizona Wildcats dribbles Sigu #1 of the Mataro All-Stars during the Arizona In Espana Foreign Tour game between Mataro All-Stars and Arizona on August 16, 2017 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images) /

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EAST LANSING, MI – OCTOBER 26: Miles Bridges #22 of the Michigan State Spartans drives to the basket in the second half against the Ferris State Bulldogs during the exhibition game at Breslin Center on October 26, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

No. 5 Michigan State Spartans

Notable departures: Alvin Ellis, Eron Harris
Notable returnees: Miles Bridges, Ben Carter, Kenny Goins, Joshua Langford, Matt McQuaid, Lourawls “Tum Tum” Nairn, Nick Ward, Gavin Schilling, Cassius Winston
Notable newcomers: Jaren Jackson, Xavier Tillman

The Michigan State Spartans are projected to take a significant leap just one season removed from amassing a 20-15 record and finishing ranked No. 40 in KenPom’s adjusted efficiency metric. The return of sophomore Miles Bridges is obviously a boon for the Spartans who are looking to make their 10th Final Four in program history, but it is another rising sophomore who may hold the keys to the team’s future.

After spending much of last season splitting time with established veteran Lourawls Nairn, point guard Cassius Winston should be due for a breakout season. The former top 50 recruit struggled to adjust to the college game as a freshman, committing 4.3 turnovers per 40 minutes — a problem Nairn also shared — as Michigan State ranked 304th out of 351 Division I teams in turnover rate at 20.4 percent. Over six games in March, however, Winston committed just 2.6 turnovers per 40 minutes. If he can continue to improve as a decision-maker, it will open up additional offensive opportunities for the Spartans as a whole and giving them a path to improvement.

The return of Bridges and addition of 5-star recruit Jaren Jackson will also give Michigan State one of the most versatile frontcourts in the nation. Bridges spent much of his freshman season playing as a small ball power forward but may find himself used more often as a small forward alongside Jackson and sophomore Nick Ward in lineups in 2017-18. Bridges ability to move up a spot, though, will create a multitude of options for head coach Tom Izzo, especially given the 6-foot-10 Jackson’s ability to knock down outside shots and the return of both Ben Carter and Gavin Schilling after they missed last season with injuries.

Read our full Michigan State preview here.