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At minimum, he’ll provide toughness and size and strength on the wing. He is a college freshman in a 25-year-old’s body. Henry, along with Tillman, will be first off the bench for MSU this season and is the most ready to contribute of the five freshmen. He’s an elite rebounder, a cerebral defender, with a deliberate but potentially effective offensive game. Tillman’s primary role, however, is likely to be as Ward’s backup at center. His expanding shooting range and understanding of spacing on the floor will mean Izzo won’t have to decide between Tillman and Ward down the stretch. If Ward is as focused defensively and consistent with his energy as he says he wants to be, he could be in for an All-American-type of season.īy the end of last season, it was hard for Tom Izzo to take Tillman off the floor. He’s lost about 15 pounds and is motivated and humbled after flirting with the NBA draft last spring. He is a rare low-post scoring talent and commands extra attention on the block. Ward is largely what separates the Spartans from other teams. If he can hit those shots in games - and he’ll be left open to try - it’ll make it harder for defenses to double Ward without paying for it. In practice, a third of his shots have been from beyond the arc. Whether he contributes offensively is the question. Goins can be a valuable player - a versatile defender who’s usually in the right place. If Tillman starts, the rotation is a mess and foul trouble for MSU’s big men could become a problem. MSU needs him to give good minutes as a starter, allowing Xavier Tillman to come off the bench and backup Nick Ward. The best case for McQuaid, who’s had an up-and-down career, is that his senior season mirrors Travis Trice’s final season four years ago. But McQuaid’s role is important - as a shooter, yes, but also as MSU’s most reliable perimeter defender and, to begin the season, as perhaps the Spartans’ backup point guard. I think eventually he’ll become MSU’s sixth man, with freshman Aaron Henry moving into the starting lineup. McQuaid begins the season in the starting lineup.

Whether he can carry the offense on certain nights with his jump shot and get to the free-throw line on the drive will determine a lot about his junior season. If Langford is ever going to take that leap and become a headliner, this would seem to be the year. Like with Winston, the question is the next step. Langford had a better sophomore season than you might realize, averaging 11.7 points while shooting above 40 percent from long range and becoming a consistent defender. The questions that remain involve his defensive grit and his toughness in the face of an opponent’s defensive grit. He’s a gifted passer, with elite vision and understanding of the game, a natural shooter and, now, a seasoned veteran who understands the value of each possession. In that regard, MSU needs Winston to go from good to great and do it with consistency.

The Spartans will only go as far as Winston can take them. Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch breaks down the Spartans’ roster. Michigan State opens Tuesday against top-ranked Kansas in the Champions Classic in Indianapolis.