​Why will Michigan State reclaim the Big Ten?Jeremy Fears Jr.That’s it. That’s the reason.That’s the entire article.Okay, maybe it’ll take more than one man, but Fears being the quarterback of this team is going to be the biggest reason why the Spartans reclaim the Big Ten.You may not like him. You may not respect him. Yet Fears is poised to have one of, if not the most, essential seasons in recent Michigan State basketball history.If that sentence feels like the beginning of an article from the 2010s, that’s because, for the first time since Cassius Winston, Michigan State has a player capable of representing the entire conference as its best player.Not only does that feel like a throwback, it may also send a ripple of goosebumps through some Spartan fans. Those kinds of expectations haven’t exactly been kind to Michigan State over the last several years. Outside of Michigan fans celebrating national championships in football and basketball recently, it’s been far more doom and gloom for Spartan fans and Detroit sports fans alike.Setting sky-high expectations can be dangerous. Fans begin believing in something they normally wouldn’t, and when those expectations fall flat—whether the team loses or a player doesn’t live up to the hype—that feeling of disappointment takes over like the symbiote taking over Eddie Brock and becoming Venom.Instead, many Michigan State fans have adopted the famous quote from Spider-Man: Brand New Day: “Expect disappointment and you’ll never be disappointed.”That mindset has echoed throughout the fan base ever since the Spartans’ Final Four run before COVID. Since then, heartbreak has become all too familiar.But this season feels different.Those feelings of doubt should be pushed aside because, for the first time in what feels like forever, Michigan State’s leader enters the season carrying enormous expectations—and he looks ready to deliver. Jimmy John’s freaky fast.Now, is Fears the only reason Michigan State is going to win the Big Ten?Not at all.The supporting cast is poised to become one of the most talented rosters assembled during Tom Izzo’s tenure. That’s a bold statement, and I don’t necessarily believe they’ll perform like one of the greatest teams in school history this season. Young players are still young players, and sometimes they don’t know how to slow the game down when it matters most.That youth could ultimately become this team’s Achilles’ heel.While the starting lineup features experienced players like Jeremy Fears Jr., Coen Carr, and Anton Bonke, it’s the youth throughout the rotation that will determine just how far this team can go. By March, that depth could either become the Spartans’ greatest strength or a group that struggles under the brightest lights.Michigan State welcomes four talented freshmen, including Jasiah Jervis and Ethan Taylor, who will both be pushing for major minutes—and potentially even starting roles.Then there are Cam Ward and Jordan Scott, two players who n