Michigan State Men’s Basketball 2020 NCAA Tournament Capsule

March 6, 2020 · Joel Welser

Michigan State Spartans

Big Ten (22-9, 14-6)

 
Michigan State came into the 2019-2020 campaign as the team to beat. However, some bad luck in the injury department quickly took the Spartans out of the top spot in the nation and even out of the top 25. But this is Coach Tom Izzo’s team. They have the NCAA Tournament experience and the talent to make another push towards the Final Four.
 
Big Wins: 11/14 at Seton Hall (76-73), 1/17 Wisconsin (67-55), 2/29 at Maryland (78-66)
Bad Losses: 11/25 vs Virginia Tech (66-71), 1/12 at Purdue (42-71), 2/4 Penn State (70-75)
Coach: Tom Izzo
 
Why They Can Surprise:
This group does what most Coach Izzo teams do. They hit the glass very effectively and share the ball well. This year Michigan State often plays great defense and never makes it easy for the opposition to get a clean look at the basket too. Senior point guard Cassius Winston will often take over games, averaging 18.6 points, 5.9 assists and 1.2 steals. Much of the rest of the production comes from the frontcourt duo of Xavier Tillman and Aaron Henry. Tillman has had a sensational junior year, tallying 13.7 points, 10.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.2 steals and 2.1 blocks per game. He can fill up the stat sheet in a hurry. Aaron Henry, a 6-6 sophomore forward, is the other consistent scorer on the team, but Gabe Brown and Rocket Watts will occasionally add another scoring threat to the team.
 
Why They Can Disappoint:
By the numbers, this is a solid Michigan State team. The offense scores a point or two less than they did last year, but the defense has been a little bit better. The turnover margin is typically poor, but it is not as bad as it was last season and that group reached the Final Four. With upperclassmen leaders like Winston and Tillman, the Spartans have what they need to do it again. However, the rest of the roster is quite inexperienced. If the younger players make mistakes and are timid when it comes to shooting the ball, this group will have to rely too heavily on Winston and Tillman. They need others to step up and at least provide another scoring threat.
 
Probable Starters:
Cassius Winston, Senior, Guard, 18.6 ppg, 5.9 apg
Rocket Watts, Freshman, Guard, 9.0 ppg, 1.7 apg
Malik Hall, Freshman, Forward, 4.6 ppg, 3.7 rpg
Aaron Henry, Sophomore, Forward, 10.0 ppg, 4.6 rpg
Xavier Tillman, Junior, Forward, 13.7 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 3.0 apg, 2.1 bpg
 
Key Role Players:
Gabe Brown, Sophomore, Forward, 6.8 ppg, 3.6 rpg
Thomas Kithier, Sophomore, Forward, 3.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg
Kyle Ahrens, Senior, Guard, 3.6 ppg
Marcus Bingham, Sophomore, Forward, 3.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg
 
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 75.9 (51st in nation, 2nd in conference)
Scoring Defense: 64.7 (50, 6)
Field-Goal Percentage: 46.1 (55, 2)
Field-Goal Defense: 37.9 (5, 1)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 7.7 (129, 8)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 34.8 (99, 3)
Free-Throw Percentage: 75.0 (51, 3)
Rebound Margin: 7.5 (12, 2)
Assists Per Game: 17.7 (2, 1)
Turnovers Per Game: 12.5 (118, 12)
 
Recent Postseason Appearances:
 
2019 NCAA Round of 64 win over Bradley
2019 NCAA Round of 32 win over Minnesota
2019 NCAA Regional Semifinal win over LSU
2019 NCAA Regional Final win over Duke
2019 NCAA National Semifinal loss to Texas Tech
2018 NCAA Round of 64 win over Bucknell
2018 NCAA Round of 32 loss to Syracuse
2017 NCAA Round of 64 win over Miami (FL)
2017 NCAA Round of 32 loss to Kansas
2016 NCAA Round of 64 loss to Middle Tennessee State
2015 NCAA Round of 64 win over Georgia
2015 NCAA Round of 32 win over Virginia
2015 NCAA Regional Semifinal win over Oklahoma
2015 NCAA Regional Final win over Louisville
2015 NCAA National Semifinal loss to Duke
2014 NCAA Round of 64 win over Delaware
2014 NCAA Round of 32 win over Harvard
2014 NCAA Regional Semifinal win over Virginia
2014 NCAA Regional Final loss to Connecticut
2013 NCAA Round of 64 win over Valparaiso
2013 NCAA Round of 32 win over Memphis
2013 NCAA Regional Semifinal loss to Duke
2012 NCAA Round of 64 win over Long Island
2012 NCAA Round of 32 win over St. Louis
2012 NCAA Regional Semifinal loss to Louisville
2011 NCAA Round of 64 loss to UCLA
2010 NCAA Round of 64 win over New Mexico State
2010 NCAA Round of 32 win over Maryland
2010 NCAA Regional Semifinal win over Northern Iowa
2010 NCAA Regional Final win over Tennessee
2010 NCAA National Semifinal loss to Butler
2009 NCAA Round of 64 win over Robert Morris
2009 NCAA Round of 32 win over USC
2009 NCAA Regional Semifinal win over Kansas
2009 NCAA Regional Final win over Louisville
2009 NCAA National Semifinal win over Connecticut
2009 NCAA National Final loss to North Carolina
2008 NCAA Round of 64 win over Temple
2008 NCAA Round of 32 win over Pittsburgh
2008 NCAA Regional Semifinal loss to Memphis
2007 NCAA Round of 64 win over Marquette
2007 NCAA Round of 32 loss to North Carolina
 
*all team stats through 3/8