Countdown the NCAA Season: JNixon-Iggy9’s Top 35 Teams (#23)

23: Michigan State Spartans

Frontcourt- This group returns everyone of note. The best player in their frontcourt is PF Draymond Green. The 6’5 255 Green looks more like an Eating contest champion than a basketball player, but he’s good. He is an outstanding passer and rebounder (4.1 apg/2.3 topg; 8.6 rpg) from the PF spot, a Coach Izzo favorite, and he’s a solid mid-range shooter with the raw range to the college 3. Green is extremely smart on the floor and he has pretty good feet for his size. Still, he’s very short for a PF though and not an athlete which makes his translation from college player to college prospect a little murky. He has trouble scoring and defending in pure man-to-man situations against guys with size as you’d expect, even though his wide frame can help him in some instances. Beside him at the starting PF/C spot will be a fight between Sr. Delvon Roe and Soph. Adreian Payne, both highly regarded HS prospects. The 6’7 Roe had a serious knee surgery in HS that has zapped his quickness and athleticism he’d need as the mismatch PF he was recruited to be. He has gotten a lot stronger though to attempt to make up for it and now looks like a true PF at this level (235 lbs). Roe is a pretty good rebounder and pure man-to-man defender who plays very hard and tough, often giving up inches on his man down low yet still being competitive. His post game and face-up game aren’t great though other than basic open 12-15 footers and jump hooks around the rim. 6’10 235 Payne is a lots of length. He has the frame to add weight and the potential to be a good player at Michigan State in time. Right now, he’s too raw to really be considered a game-changer, but he looks like a shot-blocking presence. He needs to find a skill and hang his hat on it (likely a face-up game though, to make him a triple threat with his athleticism), but the upside is there for him to be a good player. Look out for Fr. Branden Dawson, a 6’7 225 combo forward. Dawson, a Mickey D’s guy, is physically ready to play in the Big 10, and he’s tough and willing to compete. He rebounds well and uses his strength on offense. He needs to refine his perimeter game though, from handle to jump shot. Look for about 5 ppg and 3 rpg from him next year. They also have Jr. Derrick Nix, a wide body (6’8 280) who basically isn’t good but provides a guy who can bang with the physical bigs in the Big 10. He started as a Fr. a bit, but don’t expect him to score, block shots, or stay in games for more than extremely limited time though. Garrick Sherman is a big man (6’10 245) who rebounds and is a basic finisher at the rim. This is a typical Izzo hard-working frontline, with guys who provide interesting tools and they have a solid depth. Green, Payne and Roe figure to improve and need to get more spikes in production to make help the guards. They have a lot of experience.

Backcourt- They lose Kalin Lucas and Durrell Summers. Lucas was a great as a MSU PG, but his Achilles injury lingered last year and took some of his quickness. He also became more fascinated with scoring and not being a true PG, which was an interesting turn from how he used to play (although he was always a bit of a scoring point). Summers was talented, but his IQ was low and he was too inconsistent. He stayed in Izzo’s doghouse. They have a young talent looking to replace them though, in Soph Keith Appling. Appling is a 6’2 combo guard who likes to score. He looked like a Fr. at times last year, but he’s pretty good. He has a nice jumper off the bounce or spotting up, and he’s got enough quickness to slash too. It will be interesting to see how he does playing PG though, as he will be the squads guard often. He spent this off-season working on his handle, which sometimes looked shaky last year, and getting a feel for creating for others, as he didn’t do that last year (1.3 apg/1.6 topg). He also needs to work on his D. I expect about 14 ppg and 3 apg from Appling next year. The depth will come from a mix of newcomers and returning bench guys. Fr. Brandan Kearney and Dwaun Anderson could contribute as wings, and Fr. Travis Trice will have to play immediately as a PG. Kearney is a thin 6’5 wing, who has the length and quickness to be a threat getting in the passing lanes, and also has the ability to hit his jumpers off screens, off the bounce and spotting up and slash the lane. He’s not known for his consistency, and he needs strength though. He’s an eerily similar player to Summers as a matter of fact (just when Izzo thought he got away from him). Anderson is a super athlete. He’s a southpaw who can slash and likes to play above the rim. He’s great in transition and is a willing defender. He needs to get more consistent with his shot though. Travis Trice is a 6’0 175 guard who is touted as a great shooter who needs more strength to defend better. Sr. Austin Thornton is pretty terrible, but at least he played last year because he tries hard. He must be a good shooter in practice, because he was used something like a designated shooter. But he failed at it last year. Miserably. MSU has underrated Fr. guards, and Appling is ready to take the next step as a scorer. These guards seem like the kind Izzo can work with. They don’t have egos and they are all young.

Overall- Last year was a bit of a disaster. They were expected to get to the title game by most, at least Final 4. Lucas and Summers clearly had the NBA on their minds, and they just didn’t have much chemistry on the team. Not to mention guys like Korie Lucious getting dismissed. This year there is less ego and also talent on the squad too. Appling will have to grow up, but he’s promising. Green, Roe, Nix, Fr. Dawson and a developing Payne give MSU a solid frontcourt. One of the more battle tested lines in the land. Tom Izzo is a top 3-5 coach, and I think this team is perfect for him, no slight to Summers and Lucas, who were good guys. Look for Michigan State to get to the 2^nd round or Sweet 16.