College Basketball Preview: Michigan State Is the Team to Beat in the Big Ten

Player to Watch: Miles Bridges

No need to overthink this choice, as Bridges seems to have every angle going for him this season -- NBA lottery-level talent, a Hall of Fame coach, a strong supporting cast, a year of experience, and a mission to fulfill after last year's disappointing season. Bridges could have left for the NBA, but instead, he told Izzo that he wants to get to a Final Four and win a national title, delaying his NBA payday to reach greater success at the collegiate level.

That's a story every college hoops fan can get behind, and Bridges is a strong pick to be Michigan State's second Associated Press National Player of the Year winner in three years, following in the footsteps of Denzel Valentine from 2015-16.