Michigan State Basketball travels to the State Farm Center for a game against Illinois. The Fighting Illini are 3-2 in their last five games whereas MSU is 2-3 in their last five games. Another tough away game environment for the Spartans in this matchup.
Here are the five most important players in this game:
1. Aaron Henry
Aaron Henry sits atop my list of the five most important MSU players yet again. Henry did score in double digits against Michigan but he still struggles on the floor. The Sophomore Forward can still improve over the next month but the window of opportunity grows smaller and smaller with each game. Aaron Henry is the most important Spartan in this game against Illinois.
2. Gabe Brown
Gabe Brown failed to score against Michigan this past Saturday, shooting 0/5 from the floor. Keep in mind, MSU only lost by nine points against their interstate rival. So even just ten points from Gabe Brown swings this game in Michigan State’s favor. Watch for Brown to have an explosive bounce-back game against Illinois.
3. Xavier Tillman
Xavier Tillman put up a sneaky 17 points and 12 rebounds against Michigan. I think Tillman should be more aggressive as a scorer. Sometimes, he gets the ball down low and looks to pass to a perimeter teammate. Instead, Tillman should put his body against the defender and score or draw contact. He is a reliable source of high-quality shots more often than not.
4. Rocket Watts
Rocket Watts had a quiet game against the Wolverines with seven points off the bench. Watts gives Michigan State a great scoring spark when Cassius Winston rests on the bench. More importantly, he allows Winston to play off-ball when paired together in the backcourt. Rocket Watts scoring ability is critical for Michigan State’s success during the final stretch of the season.
5. Kyle Ahrens
Kyle Ahrens is the furthest thing from a flashy player. Instead, he is a grit and grind type of guy. Ahrens’ energy and hustle are inspirational. Plus, he can hit three-point shots when open. Kyle can easily swing an MSU game with three or four shots from beyond the arc. As a result, I think he is pretty important in this intense road game situation.
Michigan State and Illinois play at 9 P.M. this Tuesday on ESPN. Cheer on the Spartans and stay with us on SpartansWire for more coverage to come.
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