NCAA | Team News | Michigan State Spartans

#5 Michigan State Spartans (30-5)

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Nick Ward to return to Michigan State for junior season

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) Michigan State forward Nick Ward is withdrawing his name from the NBA draft and returning to school for his junior season.

Ward says Tuesday the workouts and interviews with NBA teams will help him when he's ready to take the next step.

The 6-foot-8, 245-pound Ward averaged 12.4 points and a team-best 7.1 rebounds last season. He will be a key player for the Spartans next season. They will be without Jaren Jackson and Miles Bridges, underclassmen who declared for the draft and are expected to be among the top selections.

Leaders
Points:	M. Bridges	17.1
Rebounds:	N. Ward	7.1
Assists:	C. Winston	6.9
FG%:	M. Bridges	45.7%
FT%:	M. Bridges	85.3%
3P%:	C. Winston	49.7%
Steals:	C. Winston	0.7
Blocks:	J. Jackson Jr.	3.0

AP Rankings
Rank	School	Rec
1	Virginia	31-3
2	Villanova	36-4
3	Xavier	29-6
4	Kansas	31-8
5	Michigan State	30-5
6	Cincinnati	31-5
7	Michigan	33-8
8	Gonzaga	32-5
9	Duke	29-8
10	North Carolina	26-11
View Complete Poll

Coaches Rankings
Rank	School	Rec
1	Villanova	36-4
2	Michigan	33-8
3	Kansas	31-8
4	Duke	29-8
5	Virginia	31-3
6	Texas Tech	27-10
7	Loyola Chicago	32-6
8	Xavier	29-6
9	Purdue	30-7
10	Gonzaga	32-5
View Complete Poll

Big Ten Standings
	Conference	Overall
	W-L	W-L
5 Michigan State	16-2	30-5
11 Purdue	15-3	30-7
17 Ohio State	15-3	25-9
7 Michigan	13-5	33-8
Nebraska	13-5	22-11
Penn State	9-9	26-13
Indiana	9-9	16-15
Maryland	8-10	19-13
Wisconsin	7-11	15-18
Northwestern	6-12	15-17
Minnesota	4-14	15-17
Illinois	4-14	14-18
Iowa	4-14	14-19
Rutgers	3-15	15-19
View Full Standings

Offense (Rank)
Points:	80.2 (44)
Rebounds:	11.6 (72)
Assists:	19.1 (1)
FG%:	49.6% (8)
FT%:	74.7% (57)
3P%:	40.0% (18)

Defense (Rank)
Points:	64.9 (19)
Rebounds:	29.5 (2)
Assists:	12.0 (76)
FG%:	36.7% (1)
FT%:	72.8% (274)
3P%:	33.7% (113)