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Michigan State basketball: Ideal starting lineup for Tom Izzo’s Spartans to win Big Ten

By Mike Phillips

COLLEGE PARK, MD - FEBRUARY 29: Aaron Henry #11 of the Michigan State Spartans takes a foul shot during a college basketball game against the Maryland Terrapins at the Xfinity Center on February 29, 2020 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
COLLEGE PARK, MD - FEBRUARY 29: Aaron Henry #11 of the Michigan State Spartans takes a foul shot during a college basketball game against the Maryland Terrapins at the Xfinity Center on February 29, 2020 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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Michigan State basketball could unleash a potent starting lineup in 2020-2021.

There may not be a team that was more upset the season abruptly ended when it did in 2020 than Michigan State basketball. Tom Izzo had the Spartans peaking as they looked like a sleeper title winner, but we will never know what would have happened if the tournament had played out.

The offseason brought some key departures for Michigan State with Cassius Winston graduating and Xavier Tillman foregoing his final year of eligibility in order to go pro. Those two losses will hurt, but Izzo still has plenty of options to put together a winning lineup for the Spartans. Let’s go position-by-position to identify the top alignment for Michigan State this season.

Michigan State starting lineup: PG Rocket Watts

Filling the shoes of Winston, one of the greatest players to ever wear green and white, won’t be easy. The best internal option here is Rocket Watts, a junior who played behind Winston during his first two years in East Lansing. Watts played more off the ball last season and emerged as an offensive contributor. A return to his natural position of point guard will allow Watts to focus a bit more on running the offense and serving as a facilitator. There will surely be a downgrade going from Winston to Watts, but if the decline can be minimized it will make the Spartans far better than anyone expects.

Michigan State starting lineup: SG Joshua Langford

The Spartans received a big boost when Joshua Langford decided to take a fifth year of eligibility to return as a redshirt senior. Langford was part of Michigan State’s incredible recruiting class that brought Winston, Miles Bridges and Nick Ward to East Lansing but has had his last two years wrecked by foot injuries. Izzo will be happy to have Langford serve as a leader on this team but he will also be thrilled to add some serious outside shooting to his lineup. Langford is by far Michigan State’s best perimeter option so using him to space the floor will be valuable.

Michigan State starting lineup: SF Aaron Henry

Another player who tested the NBA Draft waters was Aaron Henry, but unlike Tillman, he decided to return to school for his junior year. That should be a huge win for the Spartans since Henry may be a focal point of Michigan State’s offense this season. Henry has always been known for his ability as a defender but made significant strides on the offensive end last season, boosting his production while enduring a slight dip in shooting percentages. With more touches coming his way there is a great chance that Henry will put up monster numbers for Michigan State.

Michigan State starting lineup: PF Joey Hauser

A newcomer to the starting lineup will be Joey Hauser, who sat out last season after transferring from Marquette. Hauser, along with his twin brother Sam, was part of a dynamic Golden Eagles’ offense in 2019 that put up points in bunches with tremendous perimeter shooting. Izzo will happily use Hauser as a stretch four, something the Spartans really haven’t had since Jaren Jackson Jr.went pro after his freshman season. Hauser’s sweet stroke from beyond the arc will make a huge difference in terms of floor spacing, creating more driving lanes for Watts and Henry.

Michigan State starting lineup: C Marcus Bingham

The trickiest position that Izzo will have to fill is the five, where Tillman emerged as one of the Big Ten’s best big men last season. The Spartans will likely start the year with Marcus Bingham, who has been a bit disappointing over his first two seasons but will merely need to be a solid role player in this group. Izzo could also look to integrate freshman Mady Sissoko, a natural rim protector, to add more of a defensive presence down low. This position should start out as a platoon but could benefit if Sissoko shows enough on the offensive end to justify giving him more minutes down the stretch.

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