Like most outside observers, Cassius Winston was shocked when John Beilein left Michigan for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
"Definitely. It felt like it came out of nowhere. He was in a good situation there," Winston told 97.1 The Ticket. "But things happen like that all the time. It definitely was news, though."
Replacing Beilein on the sideline at Michigan next season will be Juwan Howard, a noted member of the rivalry Winston gets to enjoy for one more season. Howard went 5-1 against Michigan State as a player and is remembered by some for a certain stunt he pulled at the Breslin Center after a Michigan win in 1993. (Butt, meet logo.) Winston laughed when it came up.
The animosity that once burned between the two teams has cooled into something closer to mutual respect. Might Howard's return change that?
"That's hard to say. Maybe from the fans' standpoint. From the players' standpoint, we're going to try and keep it classy," Winston said. "But if it takes another level, that makes it better for the rivalry and it makes it more fun. So I'm looking forward to that, too."
A Detroit native, Winston is also looking forward to participating in a Student Heart Check program with Beaumont Health at the Heilmann Community Center on June 1. Children between the ages of 12 and 18 can receive free heart screenings from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Winston, whose dad works at the HCC, will be on site from 10 a.m. to noon. to hang out with whoever stops by.
"My dad showed me the things that they were doing and the message that were trying to send out, and I wanted to be a part of that," Winston said. "I'll be there having fun, having a good time."
The screening takes about an hour and will include a medical history, blood pressure check, an electrocardiogram and a "quick-look" echocardiogram, an ultrasound image of the heart. At the same time, Beaumont will offer CPR/AED education and training for students and their parents.
"I didn't get my heart checked until I got to college," Winston said. "I wish I would have known that this type of opportunity would have been available in high school."
After dominating college basketball last season, Winston -- an All-American and the Big Ten Player of the Year -- could have bolted for the NBA. Few would have held it against him. But he has unfinished business at Michigan State, and chose to return for his senior season.
"I just felt like there's a lot of things that I can accomplish and I can become a lot better as a player," Winston said. "There's a whole other level that I can reach. For the long run, that's going to best for me."
With Winston leading the way, the Spartans are one of the early favorites to win the national championship.
"I'm excited. We got a really good team, a really good opportunity. I feel like we're going to get better as a team, too, so there's no telling what's in store for us," said Winston.
One player to watch out for? Backup point guard Foster Loyer, who spent his freshman season playing behind Winston.
"I tell him all the time, it's almost like he's in the same shoes I was in," Winston said. "What he has for him, he knows how to play. And if you know how to play, you can play anywhere. You just have to keep learning, take your bumps and learn from your mistakes, and I feel like he did that all year.
