Izzo’s Spartans could be 13 deep next season
One of MSU’s biggest obstacles this past season was a lack of depth in the backcourt. That shouldn’t be much of an issue next year even if Maurice Joseph decides to transfer during the offseason. Tom Keller of The State News reports that Tom Izzo expects freshmen Chris Allen, Kalin Lucas, and Durrell Summers to play early and often.
“There’s going to be some competition,” Izzo said. “Competition is good.”
Lucas, Allen and Summers each could see upwards of 15 minutes a game, Izzo said, but Drew Neitzel and Travis Walton will still be the focus of the backcourt. The incoming freshman trio will enable MSU to use combinations other than the Walton-at-point-guard, Neitzel-at-shooting-guard one that held the floor most of this season.
Raymar Morgan, who finished second on the team in scoring as a freshman, will continue to be used mostly at small forward — unless MSU wants to play a small lineup, Izzo said.
“(The freshmen) are going to be important parts of this team that don’t have to take over the team,” Izzo said. “That’s a great position to be in.”
They’ll also give MSU the depth to get away from the methodical, fast-break-phobic offense it used this season.