It feels like we are reaching a turning point with Michigan State basketball. Long-time assistant coach Dwayne Stephens is leaving. Spartan stalwarts Marcus Bingham Jr. and Gabe Brown are officially moving on with the next phase of their basketball careers.
Julius Marble, long presumed to be the next starting center, will also transfer. Joey Hauser, however, will stay for one more year.
That leaves Tom Izzo in an interesting position. He has a roster that is now a few years removed from the success of Cassius Winston and Xavier Tillman Sr. and a group of players that has yet to taste the thrill of winning a Big Ten championship or make a substantive run in the NCAA Tournament.
Below, we take a look at where the roster stands and how the rotation might look following the news that Joey Hauser is sticking around.
Potential Starters
PG AJ Hoggard, Jr.
It feels like the obvious answer that Hoggard will be the starter based on how last season went. Hoggard is physical and a supremely talented passer who is one of the few players on the team who can consistently get deep in the paint and draw a foul attacking the basket.
Hoggard made a huge jump this year when he started taking care of the ball and limiting turnovers. He is aggressive, keeps the team running in transition and plays with an edge. If he improves his shot, he will be the surefire starter all year. If he can’t, it might make the spacing difficult in a lineup that is lacking shooting.
SG Max Christie, So.
If you believe rumors on message boards, Max Christie’s return to the roster next season isn’t a foregone conclusion, but until that becomes a reality, we are going to act on the assumption that he is going to return.
At times, Christie was the best player on the team last year. At other times, he looked worn out and undersized for the role he was being asked to perform on a night to night basis….
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