Cassius Winston takes its place in the MSU tradition

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TO CLOSE

LSJ columnist Graham Couch, Beat Beat writer Chris Solari and Fast columnist Shawn Windsor unveil the incredible MSU night
Graham Couch and Chris Solari and Shawn Windsor, Lansing State Journal

EAST LANSING – Cassius Winston has moved like an old man in the locker room after the game on Saturday night.

"I know," he said, chuckling.

You're okay? I asked.

"Yes, I'm fine," he replied in a soft tone that said he knew exactly where I was coming from. "A whole lot of adrenaline. It was a must-win, so had to do it. "

What he did. Winston's remarkable arrival in Michigan State's 75-63 win over Michigan will remain one of the big closing performances in the MSU's basketball history.

I do not believe him when he says he does not suffer from knee tendonitis, especially his right knee. You can see it in the way he worked in the field and when he winced from time to time. When he insisted that his knees do not bother him, "No, not tonight, not tonight. No, I was good tonight. I could see him in his honest eyes, looking at me as if to say, "Forgive me. You know I can not be quite open here.

But I believe him when he says that he can get through. It would be foolish not to do what we have just seen from the MSU junior leader, after the brilliant performance of more than 20 Big Ten games, averaging 19.6 points and a record 7.9 assists ( and by far). And after those last 10 minutes Saturday night, when a man who should have been worn danced between Wolverine defenders and around them.

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On the left, Michigan State's Cassius Winston shoots for Colin Castleton's Michigan defenseman on Saturday, March 9, 2019, at the East Lansing Breslin Center. (Photo: Nick King / Lansing State Journal)

MSU's victory on Saturday night was both the culmination of the team's "footprint" as Tom Izzo described it, and a moment to pause and catch his breath before the next weeks. which will mark the legacy. This footprint will hold, to a certain extent, regardless of what will happen from now on because I do not think that a fan of Spartan is anywhere, especially those at Breslin Center on Saturday night, does not. will never forget the feeling that this group gave them: Beat Michigan as a second time, for a Big Ten Championship, the last game of the season.

Izzo, for one, will not forget this feeling – neither in relation to last season, nor by the magnitude of the situation Saturday, nor by what his team overcame.

"I'm going to enjoy this one as I have not enjoyed any (other)," Izzo said.

That said, they must at least participate in the second weekend of the NCAA tournament to allow this footprint to really permeate. This program, along with its fan base, are waiting for him impatiently.

"We have a nice little week before three games (the Big Ten tournament)," Winston said. "I should be completely healed by then. And the two tournament games (NCAA) per weekend. After all that, I'm pretty sure I can organize two games per weekend. "

Once again, I do not doubt it.

MSU players have already begun to think about the NCAA tournament, including Winston. After 20 games against teams that knew them so well, they are eager to face fresh meat.

"Just throw some offensives, a few games, get some easy buckets because the teams have not seen us, they do not know our staff," said Winston. "We had the opportunity to do very good things."

"I was thinking about it the other day," said Xavier Tillman, a sophomore. "I was wondering," What are the teams going to do? "I know the teams choose one or two things they're going to focus on, so maybe like Cassius on the ball screens, maybe they're going to trap or something like that." I thought somebody one should do something different, if they let us play as we play, we will be hard to beat, if you let us run in transition, if you do not crash the boards and let us run in transition, and if you do not shoot, we'll be really dead. "

Saturday night showed that again. Beyond that, this team has courage, a balance that is rarely lost. A defensive versatility that makes them more elite than they sometimes seem. They play for each other – witness Kyle Ahrens' performance on Saturday night, ignoring his beating back, hitting the ground as he ran to the defense after landing on it while scoring a basket.

"I saw the look in his eyes," said Tillman of Ahrens. "It was like," I'm not going out anyway. I do it for (Matt Mc) Quaid, for Kenny Goins. "

Tillman, too, recognized the perilous situation the Spartans were in when they fled at 10 am early and saved MSU with his energy and defensive play.

And finally, after 30 minutes of struggle, Winston took over.

"That's what I do for this team," he said.

This is one of his roles in this category of players.

From left to right, Josh Langford, Aaron Henry and Cassius Winston celebrate their victory against Michigan 75-63 to win the Big Ten title on Saturday, March 9, 2019 at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

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Michigan State's Xavier Tillman, right, grabbed the rebound against Ignas Brazdeikis of Michigan in the second half, Saturday, March 9, 2019, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

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Matt McQuaid of Michigan State scored three points in the second half of the session on Saturday, March 9, 2019 at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

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Kyle Ahrens of Michigan State, celebrates Saturday, March 9, 2019, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

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Cassius Winston of Michigan State celebrates Saturday, March 9, 2019 during a break in the second half, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

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The Michigan dunks, Ignas Brazdeikis, in the first half, Saturday, March 9, 2019, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

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Kenny Goins, of Michigan State, right, protects Michigan, Jon Teske, of Michigan, on Saturday, March 9, 2019, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

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Xavier Tillman of Michigan State, right, commits a foul of Michigan's Jordan Poole in the second half, Saturday, March 9, 2019, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

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On the left, Michigan State's Cassius Winston scores against Isaiah Livers of Michigan in the second half on Saturday, March 9, 2019 at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

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Aaron Henry (Michigan State), right, scores against Isaiah Livers (Michigan) in the second half, Saturday, March 9, 2019, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

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On the left, Michigan State's Cassius Winston scores the goal under the supervision of Jon Teske of Michigan on Saturday, March 9, 2019, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

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Matt McQuaid of Michigan State celebrates on Saturday, March 9, 2019, during a break in the second half at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

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Xavier Tillman, of Michigan State, on the right, and Thomas Kithier celebrate Saturday, March 9, 2019, in the second semester, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

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Matt Costello, a former basketball player from the state of Michigan, will watch the match on Saturday, March 9, 2019 at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

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Xavier Tillman of Michigan State celebrates Saturday, March 9, 2019 at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

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Xavier Tillman of Michigan State, left, watches over Ignas Brazdeikis of Michigan in the second half on Saturday, March 9, 2019 at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

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Michigan State Head Coach Tom Izzo will meet with the team during the second half on Saturday, March 9, 2019, at the Breslin Center, in Toronto. East Lansing.

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On the right, Michigan State's Cassius Winston passes Michigan's Isaiah Livers in the second half on Saturday, March 9, 2019, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

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Cassius Winston of Michigan State scores in the second half of Saturday, March 9, 2019 at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

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The former Michigan governor and former acting president of the MSU, John Engler, on the right, and Peter F. Secchia watch the field of play during the second half, Saturday, March 9, 2019, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

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On the right, Cassius Winston of Michigan State passes Saturday, March 2, 2019 in front of Zavier Simpson of Michigan at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

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On the right, Michigan State's Cassius Winston passes Michigan's Eli Brooks in the second half on Saturday, March 9, 2019, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

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Matt McQuaid of Michigan State State played in the second half of Saturday, March 9, 2019 at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

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Kenny Goins of Michigan State, right, hugs Matt McQuaid in the second half on Saturday, March 9, 2019, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

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The Michigan bench will be late Saturday, March 9, 2019 at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

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Michigan State's Xavier Tillman, on the right, kisses Kenny Goins in the second half of the game on Saturday, March 9, 2019, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

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Matt McQuaid, Michigan State Senior, is recognized by the crowd in the second half on Saturday, March 9, 2019, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

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Kenny Goins, Michigan State senior, is recognized by the crowd in the second half on Saturday, March 9, 2019, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

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Matt McQuaid, Michigan State Senior, right, kisses his fellow countryman Kenny Goins after defeating Michigan 75-63 on Saturday, March 9, 2019 at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

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Cassius Winston of the Michigan State holds the Big Ten Championship trophy after the match on Saturday, March 9, 2019 at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

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Matt McQuaid, of Michigan State, left, and Cassius Winston celebrate after beating Michigan 75-63 on Saturday, March 9, 2019 at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

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Michigan State Head Coach Tom Izzo addresses the crowd after defeating Michigan 75-63 on Saturday, March 9, 2019 at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

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Kenny Goins, in central Michigan, in the center, watches a video tribute with his family during the seniors' party, after the Spartans defeated Michigan 75-63 on Saturday, March 9, 2019 in Breslin Center in East Lansing.

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Kenny Goins, in the center of Michigan State, waves to the crowd as he walks with his family on the senior's night after the Spartans defeated Michigan 75-63 on Saturday, March 9, 2019 at the Breslin Center. in East Lansing.

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Matt McQuaid, a Michigan State senior in the center, and his family watch a tribute video at the seniors' party after the Spartans defeated Michigan 75-63 on Saturday, March 9, 2019 at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

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Matt McQuaid, Michigan State Senior, and his family pose with Tom Izzo at the Senior Party after beating Michigan on Saturday, March 9, 2019 at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

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Matt McQuaid of Michigan State holds the Big Ten Championship trophy after the match on Saturday, March 9, 2019 at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

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Kenny Goins of Michigan State retains the Big Ten Championship trophy after the Spartans defeated Michigan on Saturday, March 9, 2019 at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

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The banner of the Big Ten Championship is lifted on Saturday, March 9, 2019 at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

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Michigan State Head Coach Tom Izzo celebrates with the team on Saturday, March 9, 2019 at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

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Cassius Winston of Michigan State shows part of the net that he cut after the Spartans defeated Michigan 75-63 on Saturday, March 9, 2019 at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

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Michigan State's Kenny Goins cut the net after the Spartans defeated Michigan 75-63, winning the Big Ten title on Saturday, March 9, 2019, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

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Kyle Ahrens, of central Michigan State, creates a basket between Jordan Poole (Michigan, left) and Brandon Johns Jr. during the first half, Saturday, March 9, 2019, at the Breslin Center, in East Lansing.

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Kyle Ahrens of Michigan State celebrates after his teammate Xavier Tillman's dunk in the first half on Saturday, March 9, 2019, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

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Cassius Winston of Michigan State, right, fires as Ignas Brazdeikis of Michigan defends in the first half on Saturday, March 9, 2019, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

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Matt McQuaid of Michigan State, left, talks with head coach Tom Izzo in the first half on Saturday, March 9, 2019, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. .

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Michigan State's Aaron Henry shoots for Michigan defenseman David DeJulius in the first half on Saturday, March 9, 2019, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

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David DeJulius of Michigan, right, celebrates after committing a foul on the part of the MSU in the first match period on Saturday, March 9, 2019, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

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On the left, Michigan State's Cassius Winston talks with head coach Tom Izzo in the first half on Saturday, March 9, 2019, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

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In the middle, Michigan State's Cassius Winston lobbied Michigan's Zavier Simpson in the first half on Saturday, March 9, 2019, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

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A Michigan State supporter wears a waffle suit while he was sitting in Izzone during the second half on Saturday, March 9, 2019, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

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Xavier Tillman, of Michigan State, left, blocks the shot of David deJulius of Michigan in the first half, Saturday, March 9, 2019, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

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Michigan head coach John Beilein applauds during a break on Saturday, March 9, 2019 at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

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Foster Michigan State Rent falls to the floor after a foul on Michigan's Zavier Simpson in the first half of Saturday, March 9, 2019 at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

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Thomas Kithier of Michigan State, right, lobbied Jordan Poole of Michigan in the first half on Saturday, March 9, 2019 at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

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Xavier Tillman (Michigan State), left, dunks, defended by Zavier Simpson (Michigan) in the first half, Saturday, March 9, 2019, at the Breslin Center, East Lansing.

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Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo is arguing with a referee late Saturday, March 9, 2019, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

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Xavier Tillman of Michigan State, left, fouls Jon Teske of Michigan in the opening portion of the session on Saturday, March 9, 2019, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

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Aaron Henry of Michigan State scored 3 points in the first half of the Spartans game against Michigan on Saturday, March 9, 2019, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

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On the left, Michigan State's Cassius Winston is injured by Colin Castleton of Michigan in the first half on Saturday, March 9, 2019, at the East Lansing Breslin Center.

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Cassius Winston of Michigan State, wearing his iconic headband, attends the warm-up of his team before the match against Michigan on Saturday, March 9, 2019, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

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Michigan State's Aaron Henry, right, jokes with Marcus Bingham Jr. before the game against Michigan on Saturday, March 9, 2019, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

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Kenny Goins and Matt McQuaid, Fatheads of Michigan State seniors, will take the seats for Izzone fans ahead of the Michigan game on Saturday, March 9, 2019, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

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Michigan State's Xavier Tillman pulls a basket as the Spartans warm up before the Michigan game on Saturday, March 9, 2019 at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

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Michigan State fan Alex Tenkel, dressed as a shark, watches the Spartans warm up before their game against Michigan on Saturday, March 9, 2019, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

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Brandon Johns Jr. (right), former high school in East Lansing, Michigan, and Xavier Tillman, of Michigan State, compete for their position in the first half on Saturday, March 9th 2019, at the Breslin Center of East Lansing.

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Aaron Henry (Michigan State), left, and Kenny Goins (right) try the game after Zavier Simpson (Michigan) fell to the floor in the first half on Saturday, March 9, 2019 at the Breslin Center , in East Lansing.

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Nick Ward of Michigan State will be on the bench in the second half on Saturday, March 9, 2019, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

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There is no match that scares Winston into the NCAA Tournament, mainly because of the versatility of the MSU supporters. "I do not think there are a lot of looks that we can not handle," he said.

Michigan was supposed to be a tough match. Zavier Simpson was supposed to be a bad match for Winston, personally. Winston scored 11 points in the last 10 minutes, including one time driving the ball directly to Simpson and scoring over him.

After this season and these last two games against the Wolverines, Winston will become one of the best players of all time at the MSU. He is a two-time Big Ten Champion. He will be the Big Ten player of the year in a few days. He has just led the Spartans to a decisive win over their rival, giving them a share of their second consecutive Big Ten title. He became a killer of Wolverine. It's a hellish thing that deserves to be known in the MSU tradition.

Even more amazing about this performance on Saturday – he was dazzled by the last 10 minutes while he was distraught at a party where he had not the juice leg that he had done two weeks earlier in Ann Arbor.

"The reason he is, in my eyes, the most valuable player in this league, is because, when it was time to win, he really made winning games," he said. declared Izzo. "I'm proud of him, really proud of him."

The fans are too, I feel. Grateful for him, more than anything. If you had seen him walking in his locker, you would be even more surprised.

RELATED: Couch: 3 wins over MSU Big Ten win over Michigan

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Contact Graham Couch at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @ Graham_Couch.

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