Michigan State Spartans basketball travels to the Bryce Jordan Center for a game against the Penn State Nittany Lions. MSU is currently 20-9 overall and 12-6 in Big Ten Conference play. Penn State is currently 21-8 overall and 11-7 in Big Ten Conference play.
Here are the five most important players in this game:
1. Cassius Winston
Cassius Winston is the most important player for Michigan State basketball in every single game. He can swing a game in less than five possessions with quick transition threes and long-distance three-point shots. All the while, Winston finds wide-open teammates for relatively easy buckets. As a result, he is number one on this particular list of the five most important MSU players.
2. Xavier Tillman Sr.
Another Big Ten matchup against a stellar Forward in Penn State senior Lamar Stevens. Xavier Tillman has been a juggernaut on defense all throughout the year. As of late, he is nothing short of a brick wall near the rim. Tillman stops defenders in their tracks and swats away shots from the best Big Ten players in the conference. He will be vital to Michigan State’s success in this game.
3. Gabe Brown
Gabe Brown is really struggling as of late. He has scored 17 points in the past four games. All 17 points came in just one game against Nebraska. Brown scored zero points in the three other games. Gabe provides energy and spaces the floor for Michigan State. He is crucial to a deep tournament run and must play better against the Nittany Lions.
4. Malik Hall
Well, it looks like Malik Hall is the starting four for MSU now. Furthermore, he is eating up minutes at the position with Thomas Kithier as the backup. Marcus Bignham Jr. has played fewer and fewer minutes as the season comes to an end. Therefore, it only makes sense for Malik Hall to be on this list.
5. Aaron Henry
Aaron Henry did so much more than the box score suggests. He was magnificent on defense, guarding both bigs and perimeter players. He even had a ridiculously impressive block in a crucial moment down the stretch. Henry can raise MSU’s ceiling with his athleticism and shooting. He is easily one of the five most important players in every Spartan basketball game.
Michigan State plays against Penn State tomorrow night at 7 P.M. on ESPN.
