Michigan State University Athletics
Photo by: Matthew Mitchell Photography
Winston Cherishes Time as a Spartan on MSU Senior Day
3/8/2020 4:10:00 PM | Men's Basketball
East Lansing, Mich. – It's only fitting that as his last game approached at the Breslin Center, Michigan State senior guard Cassius Winston wanted to talk about his teammates.
Fitting because Winston has been handing out assists to those guys, and many others, over his last four years.
On redshirt senior walk-on Conner George: Â "CG should be a scout team legend. Â If they had walk-on jersey retirements, his would be up there. Â He gave us five years, going at guys, making people better."
On redshirt senior Kyle Ahrens and classmate Joshua Langford: Â "Kyle and Josh are guys who battled through injuries where they could have easily given the game up, but they stayed in there for their brothers. Â Those guys show you what Michigan State is all about, doing it for your brothers, going out and being Spartan Dawgs.
"To go out with this class is an honor," Winston said.
And most would say that it is an honor to go out with Winston, who will play his final regular-season game at the Breslin Center on Sunday. Â The senior co-captain has made an impact at Michigan State that not many players will ever reach.Â
The records and marks he has set as a college basketball player are almost astonishing:
•   The all-time leader in assists at Michigan State, breaking a 20-year record held by former Spartan Mateen Cleaves
•   The all-time leader in assists in the Big Ten Conference
•   One of only five Division I players EVER to score at least 1,900 points and hand out at least 850 assists.
•   One of four players at Michigan State with at least 1,500 points and 600 assistsÂ
•   He ranks among the top-10 all-time in 10 different statistical categories.
More than anything, Winston will leave Michigan State as a winner. Â On Sunday, he'll have a chance to add to that ledger as a win would clinch at least a share of the Big Ten regular season title, which would be the program's third-straight.
"It's crazy," Winston said. Â "That would be amazing to leave that kind of mark. Â Especially at a place like this where winning is expected. Â People win here all the time. That's what they do. Â To come out with three it means you did something, you did something special"
Michigan State Senior Day is always a special occasion, especially in that last moment when a player leaves the floor and kisses the Spartan head at center court.Â
"It symbolizes something great," Winston said. Â "It's a little unsanitary, but It symbolizes is how much passion, how much love you put into this program. Â That's your last moment on the floor. Â Through all the ups and downs and if you make it through here, you loved it. You enjoyed every moment of it and it's the last chance to show Breslin Center what it means to you."
He has thought about that moment, more in the last two weeks as the final game approached and, more than anything, is appreciative of the opportunity he's had to play at Michigan State.
"The fact that I get to go out there, kiss that floor and to make it to that point, from where I started to where I'm finishing, it's been a hell of a journey," Winston said. Â "To go out there, I don't know what it's going to feel like, I don't know what I'm going to feel like. Â I guess you don't know until the time comes.
"Right now, I'm feeling like I've enjoyed all of it. Â I don't regret coming to Michigan State. Â It's been home to me for four years, and it's been a blessing to play here."
Winston earned his bachelor's degree last summer in advertising management and has been working on a master's in sport coaching and leadership this year, which he will complete at the end of the semester.
As a freshman, he had his ups and downs on the courts, but he grew in the next two years, earning consensus All-American honors last year and was named the Big Ten Player of the Year. Â He came into this season as the preseason national player of the year, but also had to go through personal struggles as well.
Through it all, Winston has grown, as a player, a student, a leader and a person. Â
"You name it; I've grown into a man here," he said. Â "I came here as a boy, a young child. Â I'm going out as a man, how I speak, how I interact with people. I'm stronger, stronger in the way I play. Â I've grown in almost every aspect through my time here, and it's something I'll carry with me for the rest of my life."
Fitting because Winston has been handing out assists to those guys, and many others, over his last four years.
On redshirt senior walk-on Conner George: Â "CG should be a scout team legend. Â If they had walk-on jersey retirements, his would be up there. Â He gave us five years, going at guys, making people better."
On redshirt senior Kyle Ahrens and classmate Joshua Langford: Â "Kyle and Josh are guys who battled through injuries where they could have easily given the game up, but they stayed in there for their brothers. Â Those guys show you what Michigan State is all about, doing it for your brothers, going out and being Spartan Dawgs.
"To go out with this class is an honor," Winston said.
And most would say that it is an honor to go out with Winston, who will play his final regular-season game at the Breslin Center on Sunday. Â The senior co-captain has made an impact at Michigan State that not many players will ever reach.Â
The records and marks he has set as a college basketball player are almost astonishing:
•   The all-time leader in assists at Michigan State, breaking a 20-year record held by former Spartan Mateen Cleaves
•   The all-time leader in assists in the Big Ten Conference
•   One of only five Division I players EVER to score at least 1,900 points and hand out at least 850 assists.
•   One of four players at Michigan State with at least 1,500 points and 600 assistsÂ
•   He ranks among the top-10 all-time in 10 different statistical categories.
More than anything, Winston will leave Michigan State as a winner. Â On Sunday, he'll have a chance to add to that ledger as a win would clinch at least a share of the Big Ten regular season title, which would be the program's third-straight.
"It's crazy," Winston said. Â "That would be amazing to leave that kind of mark. Â Especially at a place like this where winning is expected. Â People win here all the time. That's what they do. Â To come out with three it means you did something, you did something special"
Michigan State Senior Day is always a special occasion, especially in that last moment when a player leaves the floor and kisses the Spartan head at center court.Â
"It symbolizes something great," Winston said. Â "It's a little unsanitary, but It symbolizes is how much passion, how much love you put into this program. Â That's your last moment on the floor. Â Through all the ups and downs and if you make it through here, you loved it. You enjoyed every moment of it and it's the last chance to show Breslin Center what it means to you."
He has thought about that moment, more in the last two weeks as the final game approached and, more than anything, is appreciative of the opportunity he's had to play at Michigan State.
"The fact that I get to go out there, kiss that floor and to make it to that point, from where I started to where I'm finishing, it's been a hell of a journey," Winston said. Â "To go out there, I don't know what it's going to feel like, I don't know what I'm going to feel like. Â I guess you don't know until the time comes.
"Right now, I'm feeling like I've enjoyed all of it. Â I don't regret coming to Michigan State. Â It's been home to me for four years, and it's been a blessing to play here."
Winston earned his bachelor's degree last summer in advertising management and has been working on a master's in sport coaching and leadership this year, which he will complete at the end of the semester.
As a freshman, he had his ups and downs on the courts, but he grew in the next two years, earning consensus All-American honors last year and was named the Big Ten Player of the Year. Â He came into this season as the preseason national player of the year, but also had to go through personal struggles as well.
Through it all, Winston has grown, as a player, a student, a leader and a person. Â
"You name it; I've grown into a man here," he said. Â "I came here as a boy, a young child. Â I'm going out as a man, how I speak, how I interact with people. I'm stronger, stronger in the way I play. Â I've grown in almost every aspect through my time here, and it's something I'll carry with me for the rest of my life."
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