Washington, D.C. -- Cassius Winston isn't much of a dunker, in case you hadn't heard. He's not all that tall, not all that quick and not all that athletic. He'd be the first to tell you. But Winston's been dunking on his younger self all season long, leaving the player he once was sprawled out beneath the basket. Was that a wink on his way back down the floor?
Let's rewind to early January, when Purdue visited Michigan State. The Boilermakers tried to wear Winston out with a constant press and the physical, relentless defense of 6'6 Nojel Eastern. Winston, unfazed, lifted the Spartans to their ninth win in a row.
Afterward, teammate Kenny Goins acknowledged the former version of Winston wouldn't have been up to the task. He wouldn't have been "tough" enough, Goins said. He wouldn't been able to "muscle through it." But this Winston? "He's able to just keep going and going."
On Thursday afternoon, Winston sat at his locker inside Capital One Arena in Washington D.C., where Michigan State will face LSU in the Sweet 16 Friday night. He was asked how he's changed over the course of his three seasons at Michigan State, particularly this season. And freshman-year Cash wound up back on a poster, junior-year Cash hanging on the rim above him.
Old money, meet new money.
"A couple years ago I wouldn't have made it through this season, I can tell you that," Winston said with a laugh. "Just the way I eat, my conditioning, I drink a lot more water. I take care of myself a lot better so I can make it through seasons like this."
Winston's a snacker, always has been. He's got a weakness for Starbursts and chips. (Who doesn't?) Candy used to comprise a big chunk of his diet. He decided to cut that out this season -- or at least cut it back -- and instead eat steady meals. His body is better for it. Oh, Winston's got his bumps and bruises, but his legs haven't quivered under a load that's continues to grow larger.
He rescued Michigan State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament versus Bradley, then put out a fire in the second round versus Minnesota. Next up is LSU and Tremont Waters, the electric point guard who resembles Winston really only in stature. When he gets the chance, Waters will dunk.
If Winston is the overachiever we believe him to be, the man whose magic is above his means, this is his finest chance to prove it.
And if Winston can carry Michigan State to the Elite 8, where a likely matchup with Duke awaits, his March legend will grow. LSU interim head coach Tony Benford has already compared him to one of the most famous figures in recent Tournament history. You might not remember much about the UConn team that won the national championship in 2011, but you darn well recall Kemba Walker.
"It all starts with Cassius Winston," Benford said Tuesday when asked about the Spartans. "He's a tremendous point guard. He reminds me of Kemba Walker. I was at Marquette when Buzz (Williams) was there. We played against Kemba Walker and UConn back then. His ability to score at all three levels. He's got a great ability to shoot the basketball from three, great floater game."
Winston couldn't help but smile upon hearing the comparison on Thursday. Sure, Walker has become a star in the NBA, but his name most immediately conjures images of March.
"It's just crazy. That's high praise, because I wish I was Kemba Walker. That'd be sweet," said Winston. "Just keep doing what I'm doing."
There he was, Casual Cash. We haven't seen as much of him this year, at least not on the floor. It's a nickname Izzo bestowed upon Winston his first two seasons, not completely affectionately, when the two were still trying to figure each other out. Izzo wanted Winston to show more fire and play with more focus.
A coach as feverish as any couldn't understand why one of his best players always seemed so cool.
Over time, Izzo and Winston have bridged that gap. Izzo says it required frequent conversations and compromise. Winston laughs and says, man, it was a "long, long process." He took it upon himself this season to exude more energy and be more vocal. He commited to playing better defense. They'll never be the same person, Izzo and Winston, but these days they're mostly on the same page.
And this is where it's led them, within two wins of a Final Four hardly anyone saw coming.
"He's more of a quiet assassin," Izzo said. "Sometimes that frustrates me because you want to see passion in a guy, but he has his own style. It's taken me a while to learn that style, too. But do I think he's excited about this? Do I think he's looking forward to it? Do I think he's ready for the challenge? 100 percent. He just has a different way of showing us all.
"And yet on my team, that might be good, because I show emotion the other way. So he keeps a complete balance between the coach and the players, and that's what makes him so special."
Of all the great players that have carried the Spartans deep into March, Izzo said few remind him of Winston. On top of his complete game at the point guard position, there's that unhurried disposition. Izzo continues to raise the bar higher for Winston, who calmly continues to clear it. It's like he's waiting for the next challenge.
It was the same with Walker and UConn coach Jim Calhoun in 2011. One kept asking for more, and eventually the other delivered a title. Izzo believes strongly Winston still has more to give. We'll see how much he has on Friday, and whether it's enough.
In the meantime, allow the kid a Starburst or two. Fair to say he's earned it.
