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Michigan State basketball: Starting lineup options for next season

By Mike Phillips

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 31: Aaron Henry #11 and Xavier Tillman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrate a basket against the Duke Blue Devils during the second half in the East Regional game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 31, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 31: Aaron Henry #11 and Xavier Tillman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrate a basket against the Duke Blue Devils during the second half in the East Regional game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 31, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 31: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans in action in the first half against the Duke Blue Devils during the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament East Regional Final at Capital One Arena on March 31, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 31: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans in action in the first half against the Duke Blue Devils during the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament East Regional Final at Capital One Arena on March 31, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /

Next best scenario

  • Point guard: Cassius Winston
  • Shooting guard: Joshua Langford
  • Small Forward: Aaron Henry
  • Power Forward: Gabe Brown
  • Center: Xavier Tillman

This is the next scenario for Michigan State to consider, and it is one that at least has a puncher’s chance of happening considering Ward’s flirtation with the NBA in the past. Even though Ward would benefit from another year in school and his hand injury damaged his stock, Ward may still feel like he needs to collect a paycheck and head for the pros now.

That would create a new opening in the Spartans’ lineup, and they would fill that with an experienced player in forward Gabe Brown. Brown was the seventh man in the Spartans’ rotation at the end of the season, playing spot minutes to give breathers to Tillman, Goins, and Ward up front.

With a full offseason to get coached up by Izzo, Brown could be poised for a big leap forward much like the one Tillman took a year ago. Brown is a bit small for the four, but that may not be a bad thing considering how successful teams with smaller lineups have been in the NCAA Tournament in recent years.

Another option to fill that spot would be rising sophomore Marcus Bingham Jr, who received limited minutes in his freshman year. Bingham is more of a five at 6-foot-11, and he would push Tillman over to the four spot and have Brown join Kyle Ahrens as key contributors off the bench.