The Detroit News' 2017-18 Michigan State player review

Ben Carter, F, senior: The sixth-year player saw significant minutes early in the season before an ankle injury slowed him and forced him into a much smaller role through conference play. He saw increased minutes in the NCAA Tournament but his real value was in the work he did in practice with young post players like Nick Ward, Xavier Tillman and Jaren Jackson Jr.

Lourawls “Tum Tum” Nairn Jr., G, senior: The leader of the team, Nairn accepted a reduced role this season as Cassius Winston took over as the primary point guard for the Spartans. Nairn was a solid on-ball defender but was limited by his offense. However, he was the glue to the team and replacing his leadership will be one of Michigan State’s most important tasks heading into next season.

Gavin Schilling, F, senior: Things didn't end the way Schilling hoped, as he didn't play in the loss to Syracuse. However, he was one of Michigan State's best ball-screen defenders who could guard more athletic players and was strong on the glass. Never a consistent offensive threat, Schilling was his most effective scoring the ball in transition.

Kyle Ahrens, G/F, junior: It was a lost season for Ahrens, who aggravated a foot injury a few weeks before the beginning of the season. He'll likely use it as a redshirt season, and if he returns healthy for 2018-19, he can provide some athleticism on the wing with the ability to score from the perimeter.

Kenny Goins, F, junior: One of the Spartans' most versatile players, Goins has the ability to play several spots on the floor. A decent shooter when he gets the chance, Goins is valuable as a defender and on the glass. He’ll never lead the team in scoring, but he does a lot of the things that rarely show up on the stat sheet.

Matt McQuaid, G, junior: McQuaid became one of Michigan State's better defenders on the perimeter this season while continuing to provide the ability to hit the three. He made better than 40 percent of his shots from behind the arc this season and had a penchant for making big shots late in the game. He'll enter next season as one of only two seniors with extensive playing time as he looks to become a more consistent scorer.

Miles Bridges, G/F, sophomore: The second-team All-American's second season looked a lot like his first, which frustrated some expecting he would become a superstar. His scoring and rebounding were virtually the same and when it came to taking over games, the results were mixed. The NCAA Tournament offered the best example of that as he scored 29 and dominated in the win over Bucknell, but was 4-for-18 shooting in the loss to Syracuse, likely his last game as a Spartan.

Conner George, G, sophomore: The former walk-on earned a scholarship before the season and made the most of it in the victory over DePaul early in the season when he played a career-high 16 minutes and grabbed seven rebounds. He'll continue to provide depth in the backcourt next season.

Joshua Langford, G, sophomore: The former high school All-American took a big jump defensively, but his offense remained inconsistent throughout the season. When shooting well, he's good off the dribble and hitting mid-range jumpers. But getting that on a regular basis was the issue, as a 1-for-12 performance in the loss to Syracuse showed.

Nick Ward, F, sophomore: The second-year player continued to be an effective low-post scorer, scoring 22 points three different times this season. Defensive issues on the ball-screen continued to limit Ward's playing time at various points during the season, including in the postseason. Expect him to take a look at potentially testing the NBA waters, but if he's back he could be primed for a big junior season.

Cassius Winston, G, sophomore: Winston took huge steps in his second season as he ranked among the top 3-point shooters in the nation and led the Big Ten in assists per game. He still had a penchant for the careless turnover, but even with a poor shooting effort in the postseason, the Spartans will be counting on Winston to be a critical component over the next two seasons. The next step for Winston will be to become a more solid defender.

Jack Hoiberg, G, freshman: The son of Chicago Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg, Jack (right) spent the season redshirting as a walk-on. He’ll provide depth in the backcourt heading into next season.

Jaren Jackson Jr., F, freshman: Jackson was a game-changer for the Spartans, especially on the defensive end where he blocked a school-record 106 shots. He was also a dynamic player on offense with the ability to hit the three as well as attack the basket and score in the post, though foul trouble hindered his playing time. Jackson is likely headed to the NBA as a potential lottery pick.

Xavier Tillman, F, freshman: The 6-foot-8 big man surged late in the season and showed he will be a big part of Michigan State's plans next season and beyond. A tough defender and rebounder – he had a career-high 12 in the loss to Syracuse – Tillman showed a nice tough around the basket and will likely see his minutes increase significantly heading into next season.