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

An early look at the 2020-2021 Spartans

There are few teams that will lose a more impactful player next year than Michigan State. Cassius Winston, the unquestioned heart-and-soul of the Spartans, is graduating while key rotation member Kyle Ahrens is also a departing senior.

The two main questions in terms of players on the current roster surround Joshua Langford and Xavier Tillman. Langford, while technically a senior, is still weighing whether to take a medical redshirt to gain a fifth year of eligibility while Tillman could be a borderline first-round pick in the NBA Draft.

Tom Izzo won’t hold Tillman back if he gets a first-round grade from draft experts since first-round picks get guaranteed NBA contracts. If the results are mixed, and with a bit of uncertainty surrounding the pre-draft process due to the coronavirus, it could push Tillman towards staying to build his stock even more in his senior season.

Rocket Watts, Aaron Henry, and Gabe Brown are all returning for Michigan State, which will also see former Marquette forward Joey Hauser become eligible this season. Hauser sat out this year after transferring but should provide the Spartans with a much-needed stretch four.

Izzo does have two four-star recruits coming in center Mady Sissoko and point guard A.J. Hoggard, and in an ideal world, the pair will be eased into the rotation. The Spartans could be a title contender if Tillman and Langford return, but even if they don’t there is still plenty of talent in the cupboard for Izzo to build a team that can contend for the Big Ten title.

For more NCAA basketball news, analysis, opinion and features, check out more from the FanSided college basketball section to stay on top of the latest action.