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GANG WE ARE FINALLY HERE.
BASKETBALL IS BACK IN OUR LIVES.
There are some great question marks heading into the season, and some we will find answers to very, very shortly.
But before MSU tips off the 2020-21 campaign, let’s all call our shots and figure out which statements below are fact or fiction.
TRUE OR FALSE: Foster Loyer starts the season at point guard
Named team captain. Has coaches and teammates singing his praises during the offseason. And, simply, just a team need for an experienced guy at point guard now that Cassius Winston is no longer here (single tear rolls down cheek).
Now, of course, this likely would mean that Rocket Watts would start at the two. Could Watts play point guard? Absolutely, but it’s possible that MSU trots out Loyer at point guard to start the season with Watts starting at shooting guard and Josh Langford spelling him...or it could vice versa with Watts coming off the bench and Langford starting.
Now will Loyer end the season as starting point guard? THAT WASN’T THE QUESTION. It’s just simply…will he start the season starting at point guard?
Poll
TRUE OR FALSE: Foster Loyer starts the season at point guard
TRUE OR FALSE: Marcus Bingham Jr. logs the most minutes at center this season
This is as hot of a topic as point guard this season. This will be a revolving door of players with Bingham, Thomas Kithier, Julius Marble and newcomer Mady Sissoko all vying for those minute Xavier Tillman has left behind him.
It won’t be a surprise to see all four players log close to equal time to start the season. But when the dust settles, it could be the 6-foot-11 junior with the most versatile upside getting the nod. That’s not to say the other three aren’t good — they’re all good players — but Bingham will ultimately win out with his versatility, frame and defense.
Poll
TRUE OR FALSE: Marcus Bingham logs the most minutes at center this season
This poll is closed
-
59%
True
(100 votes) -
14%
False; Thomas Kithier does
(24 votes) -
11%
False; Julius Marble does
(19 votes) -
14%
False; Mady Sissoko does
(25 votes)
TRUE OR FALSE: MSU goes 2-1 in the ACC gauntlet
Maybe the word “gauntlet” is a little too much credit to Notre Dame, but when Virginia and Duke are thrown in there…it seems appropriate.
Duke will be a tough road test despite empty Cameron Indoor Arena. Matthew Hurt is poised for a big sophomore season and, of course, Duke has another world-class recruiting haul with Jalen Johnson (No. 13 2020 prospect per 247Sports) and three other guys in the top 30 (Jeremy Roach, DJ Steward and Mark Williams).
After that date against the No. 9 ranked preseason team, MSU gets to travel to Virginia to take on the No. 4 ranked Cavaliers. No doubt that will be a tough one as Virginia is, obviously, one of the best defensive teams year in and year out.
So, does MSU run this three game ACC stretch at a 2-1 clip?
Poll
TRUE OR FALSE: MSU goes 2-1 in the ACC gauntlet
This poll is closed
-
49%
True
(83 votes) -
20%
False; They go 3-0
(34 votes) -
30%
False; They go 1-2
(51 votes) -
0%
False; They go 0-3
(1 vote)
TRUE OR FALSE: MSU finishes fourth in the Big Ten
This will once again be a dog fight of a Big Ten season. We all know the usual suspects ranked ahead of MSU in the Big Ten pecking order. You have…
Wisconsin, who graduated no one and has Brad Davison, Nate Reuvers and D’Mitrik Trice each returning for their ninth year at Wisconsin, somehow. Micah Potter is expected to have a big redshirt senior season in his second year with the Badgers.
Iowa, who of course has one of the best players in the country returning in Luka Garza. Surround him with CJ Fredrick, Joe Wieskamp and Jordan Bohannon (who is literally 23 years old), and you’ve got yourself a dandy team. Who cares if they don’t play defense? The offense scoring north of 80 per game could negate any defensive issues.
Illinois, who has the best returning two-man combo in the Big Ten and maybe the country. Ayo Dosunmu and Kofi Cockburn alone should be enough to make Illinois a scary team, and when you throw in a great coach like Brad Underwood…watch out.
So, can MSU jump any of these teams? Or do they even slip below their projected fourth place ranking?
Poll
TRUE OR FALSE: MSU finishes fourth in the Big Ten
This poll is closed
-
5%
True
(10 votes) -
93%
False; They finish in the top three
(160 votes) -
1%
False; They fall below the top four
(2 votes)
TRUE OR FALSE: Joey Hauser earns team MVP
So this is where I’ll add my opinion and perhaps hottest take of the season.
Rocket Watts will be a star and Aaron Henry didn’t nearly take a dive into NBA waters for nothing. They’re both studs and will be key to MSU’s success.
However, I just think Hauser will be better than anyone expects. I get we all think and know he will be good, but I don’t think we understand just how good he will be.
The guy shot 42 percent from behind the arc in his one season at Marquette. Now that’s a tough number to sustain, but if your power forward is consistently hitting threes and playing strong defense at the other end…HOO BOY, good luck Big Ten!
So, does Hauser take the team MVP or is this love getting carried away?
Poll
TRUE OR FALSE: Joey Hauser earns team MVP
This poll is closed
-
23%
True
(40 votes) -
24%
False; Rocket will win it
(41 votes) -
33%
False; Henry will win it
(56 votes) -
18%
False; Someone else will win it
(31 votes)
MSU gets three players on the All-Big Ten teams (first, second or third)
Last time this happened was the 2017-18 season with Miles Bridges (first team), Jaren Jackson (third team) and Cassius Winston (third team) all taking All-Big Ten honors.
Could MSU’s three-headed monster of Watts, Henry and Hauser play at a high enough level and share responsibility enough this season where all three will be honored to end the season?