Fansided

Michigan State basketball: 2019-20 season review and 2020-2021 first-look preview

By Mike Phillips

Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans. (Photo by G Fiume/Maryland Terrapins/Getty Images)
Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans. (Photo by G Fiume/Maryland Terrapins/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 5
Next
EAST LANSING, MI – NOVEMBER 10: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans passes the ball against the Yarden Willis #44 of the Binghamton Bearcats in the second half at Breslin Center on November 10, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI – NOVEMBER 10: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans passes the ball against the Yarden Willis #44 of the Binghamton Bearcats in the second half at Breslin Center on November 10, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

Memorable Moments

Michigan State escapes Seton Hall in Newark

The Spartans set themselves up for a tough non-conference schedule by agreeing to this true road game at Seton Hall, a bona fide Final Four contender in their own right. The contest was a battle throughout but Michigan State pulled away late with a 75-72 win over the Pirates in Newark. Michigan State was still trying to find its way without Joshua Langford, but the gritty nature of that win emphasized the huge potential the Spartans had.

Cassius Winston honors his brother’s memory

One of the most trying moments of the season for Cassius Winston came in November when his brother was killed after being hit by a train. Tom Izzo gave Winston the option of sitting out the team’s next game against Binghamton, but the senior opted to play to honor his brother’s memory. Winston delivered an emotional performance, leading the team to a huge win with 17 points and 11 assists in a 100-47 rout of the Bearcats.

A historic tumble out of the polls

Michigan State hit rock bottom in early February, losing three straight Big Ten games to fall out of the polls. That plummet marked the first time since 2013 the team ranked no. 1 overall in the preseason polls had become unranked at any point in the same season. A setback of that magnitude certainly proved to be humbling for Michigan State, which used the disappointment to fuel a late-season surge.

An emphatic win at Maryland announces the Spartans are back

Following that skid, Michigan State had stabilized by winning three out of four, but the one loss in that stretch came at home to Maryland. The Spartans returned the favor in grand style, going to College Park on Feb. 29 and beating the Terrapins by 12. Cassius Winston’s 60-foot buzzer-beater at the end of the first half proved to be an exclamation point that Michigan State’s tournament hopes were alive and well.