Izzo sees unusual potential – and difficult decisions – in Michigan State’s roster

Tom Izzo began another season of Michigan State basketball practice Tuesday with something he has not always possessed in recent years: options.

The Spartans have proven veterans, a celebrated freshman class, greater positional size, and enough versatility to assemble lineups in several different ways. Izzo believes it might be close to the ideal blend for a program that remains committed to recruiting and developing high school players.

Now he has to determine how all those pieces fit together.

“Yeah, I think it is an ideal blend for me,” Izzo said. “I do think we have some veterans, we have some size, we have some players that can play more than one position. We have some depth finally at a couple positions.”

Michigan State is coming off a 27-8 season, a 15-5 Big Ten record, and a run to the Sweet 16. Jeremy Fears Jr., who led the country in assists per game last season, returns after being named Blue Ribbon’s preseason national player of the year.

The Spartans are ranked No. 4 in Blue Ribbon’s preseason poll and are expected to begin the season among the top teams in the country.

Izzo appreciates the potential of his roster. He is considerably less interested in what anyone thinks of it in September.

“I think the hardest thing is you don’t really have a feel,” Izzo said. “You don’t know who’s got who. So all I’m going to do is worry about my team for a while, not believe any of the rankings, because I don’t think anything will matter until probably December, middle to late December.”

A more complete roster

Michigan State entered last season with identifiable limitations, including a lack of size and reliable depth at certain positions. Those weaknesses became especially apparent during the Spartans’ NCAA Tournament loss to UConn.

Izzo constructed this season’s roster with those shortcomings in mind...

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