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October 4th,
2006
By Joel
Welser
Broadcast Basketball
Michigan
State Spartans
Overall Rank:
#36
Conference
Rank: #5 Big Ten
2005-06:
22-12, 8-8, 6th (t)
2005-06
postseason: NCAA
 Michigan
State
could realistically finish anywhere from third to ninth in the
Big Ten. With three NBA draft picks headed out, there are tons
of question marks surrounding the Spartans. However, this isn’t
the first time that Coach Tom Izzo’s squad has appeared depleted
and still managed to compete with the best teams in the
conference.
Who’s Out:
The
absence of wings Maurice Ager and Shannon Brown and center Paul
Davis definitely leave some holes to be filled in the scoring
department. That trio averaged between 17.2 and 19.3 points per
game each and the next highest total was only 8.3. Walk-ons
Anthony Hamo and Jason Aerts have run out of eligibility.
Forward Matt Trannon isn’t expected to join the basketball squad
this year after averaging 4.6 points and 4.3 rebounds as a
junior. The wide receiver would instead concentrate on his
future in the NFL. Fellow forward Delco Rowley won’t return to
East Lansing after seeing limited minutes last year.
Who’s In:
It’s not a
big group of freshmen, but it is a very talented one. Raymar
Morgan may be starting from November. The 6-7 forward doesn’t
have a good perimeter shot, but his intangibles, hustle and pure
athleticism will keep him on the floor. Isaiah Dahlman’s role
on the team got a lot bigger when Brown left early for the NBA.
The 6-6 small forward has a nice mid-range game and the lefty
will be asked to fill in some important minutes off the bench.
Center Tom Herzog has the potential to eventually become a big
time post player. For the time being, the 7-foot Flint,
Michigan native will add a presence on the defensive end while
he continues to work on his offense and get stronger.
Who to Watch:
Drew
Neitzel is the returning leader in scoring with 8.3 points per
game. The junior point guard has the potential to score a lot
more than that now that his team needs him to. The shooting
guard spot is where the Spartans run into problems. Travis
Walton had an impressive campaign and is a great defender.
Walton, another point guard, doesn’t have much of an outside
shot, so if both Neitzel and Walton are starting, Neitzel may
act more like a shooting guard. Maurice Joseph saw very limited
minutes as a freshman and was not very impressive when he was in
the game. If MoJo can pick up his game for his sophomore
campaign, it will ease the scoring pains that are worrying
Spartan fans during the offseason.
Final
Projection:
The frontcourt
lacks proven scorers as well, but there is plenty of potential
with Marquise Gray, Goran Suton and Idong Ibok. Gray was
supposed to be the answer at power forward last year, but
averaged just 3.0 points and 3.6 rebounds as a freshman. Suton,
despite worse numbers with 3.0 points and 2.8 rebounds per game,
was the more effective option most of the time. While not a
banger under the basket like Gray, Suton showed plenty of hustle
and potential during the 2005-2006 campaign. Ibok isn’t
expected to see too many minutes, but the Spartans could use
some more depth if Ibok can become something more than a project
big man. Drew Naymick started the first seven games last year
before going down with an injury. The 6-10 center will probably
be penciled in for the starting center job in the fall, but he
may be relegated to the bench by the time the season gets
underway. It’s tough to bet against a winner like Coach Izzo,
but this might be the year to do it. The Spartans haven’t
missed the NCAA Tournament since 1997, yet that streak might end
here. If Morgan and Dahlman can handle the small forward spot
and Joseph becomes a decent option off the bench, the Spartans
can and will continue their streak.
Projected
Post-season Tournament:
NCAA
Projected
Starting Five:
Drew Neitzel,
Junior, Guard, 8.3 points per game
Travis Walton,
Sophomore, Guard, 1.8 points per game
Raymar Morgan,
Freshman, Forward, DNP last season
Marquise Gray,
Sophomore, Forward, 3.0 points per game
Drew Naymick,
Junior, Center, 1.1 points per game
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