Izzo pleased Michigan State is ‘back in the saddle’ as a popular Top 10 preseason pick

Expectations are high for Michigan State ahead of the 2023-2024 season. The Spartans have a dynamic trio of guards in Tyson Walker, AJ Hoggard, and Jaden Akins back from a team that went to the Sweet 16 last season. Frontcourt depth is better than it was a year ago. And overall talent is up thanks to an infusion of fresh faces from a Top 5 recruiting class.

Michigan State will likely start out the season ranked in the Top 5, and Hall of Fame head coach Tom Izzo would have it no other way, after beginning the season unranked one year ago.

“I prefer it because it has been earned by so many guys in the past,” Izzo said before practice on Monday. “That’s where they put the program. I didn’t put it there. They put it there. You’re damn right it deserves to be a Top 10 program, because over 20 years it has been a Top 10 program. The last two to three years it has not been a Top 10 program, but now we are back in the saddle, and we’ve got to stay in the saddle.”

The veterans on this team know what it means to be overlooked, so Izzo isn’t concerned that experienced players will become complacent now that the same pundits who ignored them last season are currently singing their praises as a potential Final Four pick ahead of this season.

“I think they understand that rankings don’t mean a lot,” Izzo said. “What I like about the rankings, I think it’s been earned. Our players have developed. We’ve gotten older. They are not in the recruiting class that we have, but the body of work that we’ve done.”

Whether Michigan State lives up to the hype remains to be seen. In order to hang banners this season, Izzo and his staff need to effectively balance personnel in a way that maximizes production on both ends of the floor while keeping everyone happy.

“The biggest concern is how we put everything together and whether they can work together the way it seems like they have,” Izzo said. “Let’s face it, their girlfriends, their buddies, their parents, they haven’t played three minutes in a game yet, so they have something to complain about. That’s right around the corner and I am kind of looking forward to it.”

Michigan State has the talent to measure up with some of the better teams that Izzo has coached. The strength of the group is its guards. Quality depth at guard gives Michigan State a chance to have a special season.

“Talent is sometimes an overused word,” Izzo said. “What I think we have is the potential to have very good guard play. AJ (Hoggard) keeps coming along. Tyson (Walker) and Jaden (Akins) have had hellacious summers. Then (Jeremy) Fears and Tre Holloman. Tre Holloman is one of most improved players.”

While guard depth is the strength of this team, Izzo is also pleased with the improved depth that Michigan State has in its frontcourt. Senior forward Malik Hall is finally healthy. Returning centers Mady Sissoko, Carson Cooper, and Jaxon Kohler have all improved since last season. Freshmen Xavier Booker and Coen Carr possess substantial upside. It is unclear what role Carr will play as a freshman, but Izzo sees him as a player with multi-position value.

“We do have some depth inside and it is going to be tricky as to who we are going to play inside,” Izzo said. “That too will be earned and not given. It’s nice when it has to be earned, and not when you are forced into it. When Miles (Bridges) was here, we lost two or three guys to knee injuries and guys were playing by default. This is going to be better, but there are going to be some tricky things to navigate.”

As Michigan State works toward the Nov. 6 season opener against James Madison, Izzo is looking for veterans to take ownership of the team.

“Leadership is always a concern,” Izzo said. “These guys are not born to lead anymore. They are born to follow, or they are born to be individuals. It’s all about me. I think that’s a problem that a lot of coaches have. What I’ve seen so far is that it is all about us. Part of the reason is that kids have failed. You don’t go to Michigan State and not finish in the top two or three in the conference two years in a row. You get to Final Fours. You don’t get beat in the first round or even the second as often. So kids were allowed to fail, which usually makes you better.”

Although Michigan State has improved its depth in the frontcourt, the Spartans have yet to prove that they can get reliable scoring inside on game-to-game basis.

“I don’t know if we are great scoring in the post yet, but we are better,” Izzo said.

Taking good shots and limiting turnovers are also points of emphasis now that practice is underway.

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