Michigan State Spartans

2023-24 Result: 20-15 (10-10 Big 10), NCAA Tournament Appearance

Key Additions

Frankie Fidler (Nebraska-Omaha)

Gehrig Normand

Jase Richardson

Kur Teng

Szymon Zapala (Longwood)

The bulk of Tom Izzo’s additions this offseason came from high school, with three 4-star recruits joining the Spartans in Gehrig Normand, who redshirted last season, Jase Richardson, and Kur Teng. The Spartans also brought in 20 point scorer Frankie Fidler from Nebraska-Omaha and Szymon Zapala from Longwood. However, Michigan State lost four key starters or rotation players from last season with the departures of AJ Hoggard, Mady Cissoko, Malik Hall, and Tyson Walker. The inexperienced roster in East Lansing will need to step up for the Spartans to be near the top of the BIG 10 this season.

Michigan State’s defense will see an improvement in rim protection this season, something which they did not have in 2023. If you just looked at the stats, you might wonder what I am talking about. However, Xavier Booker stands at 6 ‘11 and is expected to start at the five. He averaged 0.5 blocks per game last year but in just 9.2 minutes per game. If you extrapolate that out to starter-level minutes like he is expected to play this year, the Spartans will see significant improvement in the rim protection department. The backcourt defense will be similar to last year, with a few scrappy guards, just like Izzo always has, pestering opposing defenses. The Spartans also have Frankie Fidler or Jaxon Kohler to come in and guard bigger opposing lineups. This Spartan defense will be much improved, and quite honestly, one of the top defenses in the BIG 10 this season.

The offensive sample size of Tom Izzo’s squad is very small. Outside of Jaden Akins, nobody on the roster of the returning players played more than 20 minutes per game last year, and the only player who transferred in to do so is Frankie Fildler. The offense will be led by Akins after losing Hoggard and Walker, and Jeremy Fears and Tre Holloman will assume the roles of the other two guards in the starting lineup. The x-factor for this team will be the development of Coen Carr. He got some attention last year because of his freakish athleticism, but he just wasn’t ready to contribute enough as a freshman. Now as a projected starter in year two, if he can step up, along with Xavier Booker, this offense could be a force to be reckoned with. The Spartans also boast some solid perimeter shooting, especially Holloman and Akins. Fears struggled from behind the arc in limited minutes last season, but expect him to see some positive regression in this area this season. The Michigan State offense has a chance to be really solid, but the lack of experience has me a little weary on them at this point.

Michigan State is one of the most interesting teams in the BIG 10. They have one of the best coaches of all time and a talented group of players. However, they lack a ton of experience with the exception of a few guys, so whether or not they are ready for the moment is the biggest question mark. There is no doubt Izzo will do everything he can to have these guys ready. If this team can hit their ceiling, the Spartans could be headed for the second weekend in March.