2010-11 College Basketball Predictions: Michigan State
November 16, 2010
Last year the Michigan State Spartans were just one win away from playing in their second straight NCAA Championship game, but fell 52-50 to Butler in the National Semis. Michigan State ended up with a 28-9 record and were 14-4 in Big Ten action, giving them at least a share of the Big Ten Title in each of the past two seasons. Head coach Tom Izzo not only desires to bring home the Big Ten regular-season title, he wants to win the Big Ten Tournament for the first time in a decade, but with a squad as talented as the one he figures to have this season, winning the National Championship is really all that matters after the success this school has had the last two years.
Michigan State lost guard Chris Allen and forward Raymar Morgan from last year’s squad, but with a talented nucleus returning, headlined by seniors Kalin Lucas and Durrell Summers, and a solid freshmen class, Michigan State figures to be even better than they were a year ago. Michigan State opens the 2010 NCAA basketball campaign ranked second in the country, and unless they are hit hard by injuries, they should be primed for a No.1 seed and another deep run in the NCAA Tournament.
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Frontcourt: Junior Draymond Green started just three times for Michigan State last season, but after losing 15 pounds this last summer, the Spartans are hoping for big things as Green steps into the starting lineup this year. Green averaged almost 10 points, eight boards, and three assists a game last year. Fellow junior Delvon Roe is back in the starting lineup after posting six points and five boards a game last season. Roe has struggled with knee problems the last two years, and if he is able to get back to full strength, he could be one of the more improved players on this roster. Sophomore Derrick Nix has also lost weight from last year, and should be able to make more of an impact after posting just under eight minutes a night as a freshman. Nix figures to split time at the five with sophomore Garrick Sherman, who made the starting lineup in Michigan State’s season opening win over Eastern Michigan. Also added to the mix is freshman Adreian Payne, who is a real threat on the offensive end, and will get a lot of floor time whether he ends up starting or coming off the bench.
Backcourt: Lucas and Summers are what genuinely makes this team special. Lucas was the Big Ten Player of the Year as a sophomore, but suffered an ankle injury that really slowed him down last year. When at full strength Lucas is among one of the top point guards in college basketball, with his ability to do so much on offense. Summers is extremely athletic and can really finish inside, but didn’t do well from outside most of last season, before heating up in the NCAA Tournament, and being named the Midwest Region Most Outstanding Player.
Junior Korie Lucious could start on most teams, but figures to be Michigan State’s sixth man off the bench this year. Adding even more depth are junior Austin Thorton and freshman Keith Appling, and while they won’t see a ton of time with Lucas and Summers on the court, they should be ready to step in and play well when needed.
Pick – 1st Big Ten: As good as the Spartans are this season, the Big Ten is packed with quality teams, and winning this conference will be a challenge. Still I believe with the talent this team has and Izzo running the show, they are the team to watch out for this season. This is the best squad Izzo has had at Michigan State since winning it all back in 2000.
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