![]() Washington, a walk-on, is yet to play minutes in a game that hasn’t been decided. It could happen this season more than in previous years. Another injury or foul trouble and George will find himself playing meaningful minutes. However, with Langford out, MSU is not deep at shooting guard. Playing every night, though, doesn’t seem like it’s in the cards. He’s been an emergency rotation player each of the last three years. George, a walk-on from Okemos, has spent the last couple years trying to sneak onto the fringes of the rotation. But his frame, aggressiveness and athletic gifts - he moves side to side as quick as any big man MSU has had since Andre Hutson - give Marble a chance to move into real playing time as the season goes along. But he’s the third power forward right now and lower than that if MSU chooses to go small. If foul trouble strikes and against certain opponents, I think he’ll see time. His ability to knock down outside shots isn’t a need so great that it’ll allow his weaknesses to be overlooked. He doesn’t seem to have an edge to his personality on the court. His thin frame makes it hard for him to block out for rebounds. But he’s in an earlier stage of that development than MSU had hoped to begin this season. The question is whether Loyer can hold his own well enough defensively to be trusted with second-half minutes in close games.īingham remains an intriguing developmental prospect. He and Watts appear to be a fit switching between the point and shooting guard positions when they’re on the floor together. It’s up to him to show that can be an every-night, no-matter-the-opponent thing. So Loyer, without a doubt, will be Winston’s backup. MSU needs Rocket Watts to start and give major minutes at shooting guard. It looks like he’ll the first big man off the bench to start the season.Īmong the trickle-down effects from the injury to Joshua Langford is the assurance that Loyer will play a substantive role. This year, MSU needs him at power forward. His ball-handling needs work and limits his ability to make plays or be used on the wing. He’s a skilled and athletic kid with a Big Ten-ready frame. RECOMMENDED: MSU's Kyle Ahrens leans on small-town roots as he plays through pain The hope is he’ll be able to give 15-20 minutes a night throughout the season. He suffered a sprained ankle in the scrimmage against Gonzaga. The question is whether he can stay healthy. On a roster with some uncertainty, Ahrens’ solidness is welcomed. He’ll hit open shots, he’s athletic enough to finish at the rim and he knows where he’s supposed to be. He’s the ultimate role player who can fit into any lineup the Spartans put on the court. His scoring punch is something MSU is counting on.Īhrens is an important piece to this team. Like Kyle Ahrens, he’s being groomed to also play power forward, so the Spartans can go small with their most lethal offensive lineup on the floor together. ![]() Brown isn’t slated to start, but don’t be surprised if he earns late minutes. The lanky sophomore wing who’s never met a shot he didn’t like has become a more well-rounded and disciplined player. His 19-point, nine-rebound performance against Zion Williamson showed his NBA potential.īrown has a chance to significantly change the ceiling of this MSU team. We’ll see if Tillman can take the next step with his outside shot and with his post game, which is more deliberate than Ward’s was, more Horford-like. ![]() He’s been described as part Draymond Green, part Al Horford in terms of who they were late in their college careers, physically and cerebrally. His ability to switch defensively onto guards on ball screens is next-level stuff. Tillman became so indispensable last season that MSU couldn’t take him out of the lineup even when Nick Ward returned from injury. RELATED: Couch: Why Michigan State's likely go-to power forward is. He’ll likely be in the game at crunch time either way. The rotation might work best with Kithier off the bench. MSU can’t afford to have him and Tillman both in foul trouble and the Spartans need him to play minutes as the backup center. Kithier might move out of the starting lineup in favor of freshman Malik Hall. His feel for the game, his low pulse in traffic and his soft hands catching the ball are his greatest attributes. Kithier, who will be playing with a protective mask over a broken nose, looks well ahead of the other options both at power forward and behind Tillman at center. Kithier was overlooked in last year’s recruiting class. The mission of the Rockford Public Schools is to provide a safe teaching and learning environment which will ensure, with the support of the students, parents and community, that all students, upon graduation, will have the academic and social skills to be successful, lifelong learners in a global society.NEW: Couch: The Aaron Henry assumption will determine this Michigan State basketball season
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |