Michigan State A Rare NCAA Hoops Dark Horse In Tom Izzo’s 27th Season

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Opening the 2021-22 college basketball season, Michigan State basketball finds itself in a rare situation of being just outside the top 25 rankings.

Despite being ranked first in the “others receiving votes” category by both the AP and USA TODAY Coaches’ Poll, MSU is not far from reaching a higher ranking. However, the Spartans enter the new season with uncertainties.

Is it possible for Tom Izzo to guide his Spartans towards another successful March Madness campaign?

Michigan State a top preview contender at sportsbooks

Despite not being ranked in the preseason poll for the first time since 2011, the oddsmakers still hold MSU in high regard as a potential title contender this season.

BetMGM Sportsbook has assigned odds of +3500 to Michigan State for winning the NCAA Tournament in 2022. Out of all the teams, only 18 have better odds than the Spartans. With odds of +600, Gonzaga is the clear frontrunner, while Michigan, UCLA, and Villanova are tied for second place with odds of +1200 each.

In the realm of Michigan sports betting, the Spartans are attracting attention with 3.9% of the tickets and 2.9% of the handle for the national championship.

According to BetMGM, Michigan State’s odds of winning the Big Ten title are +900. The favorite to win is Michigan with odds of +250, followed by Purdue (+300), Ohio State (+450), and Illinois (+550), leaving Michigan State behind in the rankings.

Tom Izzo entering 27th season

This year marks Tom Izzo’s 27th season leading the Michigan State program, as he continues his successful run at the university.

After a disappointing 2020-21 season, Izzo and the Michigan State team are looking to bounce back. Despite securing notable victories, their overall record stood at 15-13, with a 9-11 performance in the Big Ten. Their hopes for a successful NCAA Tournament run were dashed in the First Four, as they suffered an agonizing 86-80 overtime defeat against UCLA.

Since 1997, which was Izzo’s second year with the program, this was the first time the Spartans failed to advance to the round of 64.

However, Izzo’s eighth Final Four appearance is only a few years in the past. Additionally, he has amassed an impressive total of 643 wins throughout his career with MSU.

Large roster departure for Spartans

Following the 2020-21 season, Michigan State experienced significant changes in their roster.

Despite leading the team in scoring with 15.4 points, grabbing 5.6 rebounds, and dishing out 3.6 assists per game, Junior Aaron Henry made the decision to declare for the NBA Draft. Unfortunately, his efforts were not rewarded as he went undrafted.

Joshua Langford, who was the team’s second-leading scorer, recently completed his extensive college career as he graduated.

In addition to those two departures, Michigan State University (MSU) witnessed the transfers of Rocket Watts, Thomas Kithier, and Foster Loyer, who were all valuable contributors to the program.

With a multitude of gaps to address, the Spartans are faced with the challenge of finding suitable replacements. To overcome this hurdle, Izzo will heavily lean on the experience and skills of returning veterans such as Joey Hauser, Gabe Brown, and Malik Hall.

After transferring from Marquette, Hauser’s performance in his first year with MSU fell short of expectations. He only managed to average 9.7 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.

This season, Brown and Hall were appointed as captains. Brown, a senior forward, had an average of 7.2 points in the previous season. Meanwhile, Hall, a junior forward, achieved 5.0 points and 4.2 rebounds per game last year.

In the exhibition victory against Ferris State last week, Brown emerged as the leading scorer for Michigan State, contributing 19 points to their dominant 92-58 performance.

In addition, MSU will require a greater contribution from their 7-foot center, Marcus Bingham Jr. Although he was included in the Spartans’ starting lineup during the Ferris State game, Bingham Jr. only managed an average of 11 minutes of playing time per game in the previous year.

Will new faces step up for Michigan State?

As numerous players depart, MSU welcomes a significant influx of new talent. Among the three additions from the 2021 recruiting class, Michigan natives Pierre Brooks and Jaden Akins join the ranks of the Spartans.

Max Christie, the coveted 5-star recruit, showcased his talent in the exhibition opener by scoring an impressive 17 points and earning a spot in the starting lineup.

Bringing in four players, MSU made a significant impact on the transfer portal. Among them, Tyson Walker, a point guard hailing from Northeastern, stands out. Having been named the CAA defensive player of the year in the previous season, he boasted impressive stats, averaging 18.8 points and 4.8 assists per game.

Loaded schedule ahead for MSU

Michigan State, always up for a challenge, commences the season on November 9th with an intense face-off against the formidable No. 3 Kansas in the thrilling Champions Classic event.

In addition to their participation in the Battle 4 Atlantis over Thanksgiving weekend, the Spartans are scheduled to visit Butler on Nov. 17 for the Gavitt Tipoff Games.

On December 1st, MSU will host Louisville for the yearly ACC-Big Ten Challenge.

The Spartans have marked their calendars for a Jan. 8 visit to Michigan, and they will also face a challenging four-game stretch in late January as they navigate through the Big Ten competition.

The stretch kicks off with a visit to Wisconsin on January 21st, followed by a journey to Illinois on January 25th. On January 29th, they will have a home rematch against Michigan, and then head on the road to Maryland on February 1st.

The season of MSU concludes with a series of five demanding games. It all kicks off on Feb. 19 with a home game against Illinois, followed by a visit to Iowa on Feb. 22. Then, they return home to face Purdue on Feb. 26, before embarking on a journey to Ohio State on March 3. The grand finale takes place at home against Maryland on March 6.

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