ROCKET WATTS NEWS

Back in starting lineup Watts will get the start Thursday versus Michigan, Chris Solari of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Impact Watts didn't really do anything to earn a starting spot, going scoreless over 16 minutes versus Indiana on Tuesday. The move was reportedly made, in part, due to Michigan State needing a threat from the perimeter off the bench. Watts' move back into the starting five makes him slightly more appealing from a fantasy perspective, though he doesn't frequently make a large enough impact to warrant consideration in most formats.

MARCH 4, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Michigan St tops No. 5 Illinois 81-72, bolsters NCAA chances

Aaron Henry scored 20 points and Joshua Langford had 15 points and a career-high 16 rebounds to lead Michigan State to an 81-72 win over No. 5 Illinois

FEBRUARY 24, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Starting Tuesday Watts is in the starting lineup Tuesday against Illinois.

Impact Watts will make his first start since Jan.. 31 against Ohio State, snapping a streak of six straight games coming off the bench. In nine previous starts this season, Watts averaged 9.3 points and 3.8 assists in 24.8 minutes.

FEBRUARY 23, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Plays 12 minutes Tuesday Watts (illness) didn't score (0-3 FG, 0-1 3Pt) but dished out four assists during Tuesday's loss to Purdue.

Impact Watts was feeling under the weather heading into this one but ultimately played 12 minutes off the bench. It was, however, his first game in which he didn't provide any offense. Across 19 games played, Watts is now averaging 7.7 points and 3.0 assists per contest.

FEBRUARY 16, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

On floor for warmups Watts (illness) is taking part in warmups ahead of Tuesday's game against Purdue, Matt Charboneau of The Detroit News reports.

Impact Watts has reportedly been dealing with the flu but has consistently tested negative for COVID-19, allowing him to take the floor Tuesday. Assuming he's available as expected, Watts should be set for double-digit minutes off the bench against the Boilers.

FEBRUARY 16, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Expected to play Tuesday Watts (illness) is expected to be available for Tuesday's game against Purdue, Chris Solari of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Impact Watts has continued to test negative for COVID-19, but has not practiced. He believes he is dealing with the flu, but it expected to be ready for the Purdue game Tuesday.

FEBRUARY 15, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Michigan State's Rocket Watts leaves Iowa game with sickness Watts to be tested for COVID-19 again after testing negative Saturday morning

FEBRUARY 13, 2021 • 247SPORTS.COM

Wieskamp-led No. 15 Iowa routs Michigan State 88-58

Joe Wieskamp scored 21 points to lead Iowa’s balanced offense in an 88-58 win over Michigan State on Saturday

FEBRUARY 13, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Michigan State basketball's Rocket Watts pulled from Iowa game for health precautions Michigan State basketball guard Rocket Watts was pulled from game against Iowa on Saturday after halftime "for health and safety precautions...

FEBRUARY 13, 2021 • FREEP.COM

Dealing with stomach bug Head coach Tom Izzo revealed after Saturday's loss to Iowa that Watts had a stomach issue and felt real sick at halftime but tested negative on his PCR test earlier in the day, Bre...

Impact Watts mysteriously disappeared from the Spartan bench during the second half and it was later revealed by coach Izzo that he's sick with a stomach problem. Despite it not being a COVID-related issue, Izzo said Watts is going into isolation and will need to sit out at least a few days as a precaution which could put his status in danger for Tuesday's game at Purdue.

FEBRUARY 13, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Ruled out for rest of game Watts was ruled out for the remainder of Saturday's game against Iowa due to health and safety precautions, Brendan F. Quinn of The Athletic reports.

Impact This news could potentially develop into a very serious problem for both teams if a follow-up report reveals that Watts ended up testing positive for COVID-19. The Spartans are a few minutes away from a devastating defeat to the Hawkeyes and so head coach Tom Izzo will hopefully be able to provide some sort of update in his postgame press conference.

FEBRUARY 13, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Missing from bench Watts was noticeably missing from the Spartan bench with a little over seven minutes remaining in Saturday's blowout loss to Iowa, Kyle Austin of MLive.com reports.

Impact Watts was having a miserable day as he had just two points (1-5 FG, 1-3 3PT), two assists and two rebounds in 10 minutes of action. It's unclear why he inexplicably left the team bench as head coach Tom Izzo will hopefully provide an explanation after the game.

FEBRUARY 13, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Staggering Spartans struggling with play of point guards

Michigan State is having an unusually poor season so far

FEBRUARY 11, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Henry scores 20, No. 23 Michigan State beats No. 15 Rutgers

Aaron Henry had 20 points, eight rebounds and four blocks, helping No. 23 Michigan State pull away to beat No. 15 Rutgers 68-45

JANUARY 6, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Henry scores 27 points, No. 17 Michigan State beats Nebraska

Aaron Henry scored a career-high 27 points and 17th-ranked Michigan State ended a three-game losing streak with a 84-77 victory over Nebraska

JANUARY 3, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Michigan State Basketball: Tom Izzo speaks on disappointing losses, Rocket Watts' best position It has been a disappointing start to the Michigan State Basketball Big Ten schedule. Three straight, ugly losses have shook the faith of man...

JANUARY 1, 2021 • USATODAY.COM

Michigan State basketball's Tom Izzo: Rocket Watts at shooting guard is best for us now Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo said he will keep Rocket Watts at shooting guard, which will lead to a ripple effect on the Spartan...

JANUARY 1, 2021 • FREEP.COM

Michigan State basketball's Tom Izzo on where Rocket Watts best fits Tom Izzo blamed himself for trying to make Rocket Watts a point guard, and the Michigan State coach said the sophomore will play more shooti...

DECEMBER 31, 2020 • FREEP.COM

Slated to shift off ball Head coach Tom Izzo indicated Thursday that Watts is expected to work more as an off-ball guard more moving forward, Chris Solari of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Impact After a solid five-game stretch just prior to the opening of Big Ten play, Watts has seen things really go south through the first three league games. Over that span, he's shooting just 17.2 percent from the field and 20 percent from beyond the arc. The move off of the ball suggests Watts' 4.3 assists per game may be unsustainable moving forward, but it could also tap into more of his scoring potential as he aims to get back on the right track as a shooter.

DECEMBER 31, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Tom Izzo: Rocket Watts requested to be moved out of point guard position One of the biggest story lines around Michigan State Men’s Basketball this season is regarding Rocket Watts. The talented guard has been a n...

DECEMBER 29, 2020 • USATODAY.COM

No. 21 Minnesota beats bad-shooting No. 17 Mich. St. 81-56

Liam Robbins had 18 points, nine rebounds and three blocks to lead a stifling effort by No. 21 Minnesota on defense to beat No. 17 Michigan State 81-56

DECEMBER 29, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Inefficient against Gophers Watts tallied two points (1-9 FG, 0-3 3Pt) and two assists over 23 minutes in Monday's 81-56 loss to Minnesota.

Impact Watts was one of several Spartans who struggled from the floor Monday, as the team converted on just 25.7 percent of its field-goal attempts. The sophomore guard has started each of the past seven games, but he's cooled off recently, averaging just 5.3 points and 4.5 assists over the past four matchups.

DECEMBER 28, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Michigan State basketball's biggest concern: How to get Rocket Watts to take off Tom Izzo called Michigan State basketball's upset loss at Northwestern "disgusting." There also is a bigger concern: Getting Rocket Watts go...

DECEMBER 23, 2020 • FREEP.COM

No. 4 Michigan State stays unbeaten, tops Oakland 109-91

Gabe Brown scored a career-high 20 points, and No. 4 Michigan State used a 13-0 run early in the second half to pull away to a 109-91 victory over Oakland

DECEMBER 13, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rocket Watts feeling more comfortable as Michigan State's point guard Rocket Watts had 10 points and tied a career high with six assists Dec. 6, 2020, as No. 12 Michigan State basketball beat Western Michigan.

DECEMBER 7, 2020 • FREEP.COM