We started with 64 names and we are now down to just one.
Thousands of votes have been cast over weeks of voting to determine which Spartan athlete is your favorite of all time. We started with top seeds Magic Johnson, Kirk Cousins, and Draymond Green all cruising into the final four with very little resistance. Our fourth one seed, Mateen Cleaves, made it to the elite eight before he was taken down by Cassius Winston, the two seed in the region.
From there Magic took down Cousins and Winston kept his run going by easily besting Green. That set up our championship round between the two best point guards in Michigan State basketball history. It’s funny how things work out sometimes.
Magic had yet to face a real challenge in the tournament. His closest matchup was in the final four when he got 73% of the vote to Cousins’ 27%. Winston had a *little* bit more of a tougher row to hoe, but he won convincingly in the final four–beating Green by an 80% to 20% margin. This was sure to be the toughest test for both guys.
In the end their could only be one champion and after more than 800 votes were cast in the championship . . . we have a winner. With a 56% to 44% victory the winner is . . .
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CASSIUS WIIIIINNNNSTOOOOONNNNNN
The beloved Winston was finally able to provide a matchup too tough for even Magic Johnson. That’s saying a lot given Johnson’s legacy. Winston has held a special place in MSU fans’ hearts since he got onto campus and started wowing them with his passing and shooting. During the Larry Nassar scandal his sophomore year, Winston was the most mature, compassionate and well-spoken representative of all of Michigan State athletics. Then during his junior season he became one of the best players in the country, won a crap load of awards, and led the team to a real Final Four appearance by beating one of the best Duke teams in a long time in the 2019 Elite Eight. His senior season was a story of tragedy and perseverance as his brother Zachary tragically died just as the season was getting going. Winston, with a forever heavy heart, rallied himself and his teammates to round into form on the court at just the right time to help secure a third straight Big Ten championship. Had the COVID-19 pandemic not halted the world, there was a very good shot Winston would have led his team again to the Final Four.
Cassisus Winston is a special guy and special player. There couldn’t be a better representative of Michigan State basketball and he is a worthy winner of this silly tournament.
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