2015-2016 Spartan Basketball Team Has Talent to Get Tom Izzo to an Eighth Final Four Next Year: Here is Your COMPLETE Breakdown
2015-2016 Spartan Basketball Team Has Talent to Get Tom Izzo to an Eighth Final Four Next Year
The Spartans next season suffer tough losses with Travis Trice and Branden Dawson moving on, but arguably they lost significantly more last year with an underachieving team and made it there this year. So let’s look ahead to next year with a projected starting lineup.
Seniors
Denzel Valentine: guard. There is no mistaking the fact that this will be his team. If he can take his game up another level from his junior to senior season like Travis Trice did, he will contend for Big Ten POY and national POY. He is a special player and the leader of the Spartans.
Matt Costello: Center. The former Mr. Basketball has shown flashes of potential greatness and next year as a senior is his time to define his legacy in the green and white. This off season will determine him rising to star status of being a role player with a group of younger bigs vying for his playing time. Never count the young man out.  I’m not. I expect a monster senior campaign from this Spartan.
Bryn Forbes: guard. The Spartan sharp shooter must be most consistent as a shooter and less streaky. He will never play defense like Keith Appling, but if he can get to the level of even marginally good, his senior season could be very special. He will get more shots if he can stay on the court and per Izzo, his defense will determine that.
Colby Wollenman: forward. Wollenman is Mr. Reliable. He is smart and you know what you will get from him. I look for him to continue that reliability as a key role player in the team next year.
Juniors
Alvin Ellis: guard. There was considerable speculation around the program that he would transfer after this year, but Ellis showed flashes in this tournament and I think he can contribute at a higher level. He found himself in Izzo’s doghouse numerous times over his first two seasons, not for being a bad kid (far from it) but with struggles on the court. He has prompted Izzo to admit publicly that he had almost “Given up†on the young man’s ability to contribute. He is in danger of falling into obscurity if his game doesn’t pick up, and only he can determine that. A great kid. A super kid.  He needs to fall in love with the game of basketball to develop his game to a higher level. There are a lot of guys vying for minutes next year at his spot and he can’t have minimal growth this off season like he had last year. He will have to weigh the amount of work he needs to do with a change of scenery, but he is a great kid.
Eron Harris: guard. The best player on the MSU team this past season led the scout team and he will have the biggest impact on the Spartans next year over any newcomer and possibly could be the MVP. I expect him to step into Trice’s spot at the two. Izzo knows he has to change the offense and Harris is the guy. He can score, drive, play D, and be an elite player, not a good player. Trice is a great player, but Harris over the course of a season has the potential to be an upgrade. That isn’t a slam on Trice; that is a compliment of Harris.
Gavin Schilling: center. Another great kid, he is a freak athletically, but can be the proverbial bull in a china story. He has to develop the nuances of the game now. Izzo wants an improved offense that can drive and his athletic ability would do well in that scheme over setting up in the paint. He can run, and the little things are what this returning starter has to develop now.
Sophomores
Javon Bess: guard. He spent the year injured and it hampered him. The best incoming freshman this year never got a chance to shine. He is a tough as nails competitor that you need not worry or question work ethic. If he is healthy this summer, he will take Dawson’s starting spot and with a chance to shine. Health is the only thing that can keep him from potential greatness.Â
Lourawls TUM TUM Nairn: guard. The Spartans starting point guard is tough, and has a work ethic of a gladiator. He has zero worries when it comes to effort on offense or defense, but he must improve his shot this off season. He has the ability to be a Drew Neitzel, but ONLY with an improved shot.
Marvin Clark: forward. The big man worked out of a redshirt when his play wouldn’t let Tom Izzo do it. He was a key role player as a freshman, but he has ALL the tools to become a key starter at the power forward. He is strong and when it’s going he has an inside outside game, but consistency is where he will make a living as a Spartan. Just time in the gym working on basketball skills will make him better. He is already a warrior in the weight room.
Freshman
Deyonta Davis: center. A one man wrecking crew will get Michigan’s Mr. Basketball plenty of minutes early for the Spartans. If he can translate his game on offense he could march right into the Spartans starting lineup early. He runs the floor very well like Schilling and has a solid shot.Â
Kenny Goins: forward. He red shirted this year and will push for minutes. There are a lot of bigs on this team so minutes will be at a premium. He may still be a year or two away from contributing on a consistent basis, but I don’t think it is unfair to think he could develop a solid role on this team.
Kyle Ahrens: guard. Izzo wants to change his offense and this young man could do it. He can shoot for distance, but this kid is fearless. He will drive to the rim and attack it like a bulldog after a steak. If he is hot on offense, he will get minutes. The biggest question that has to be answered is on defense. Can he play the defense Izzo wants and expects? He loves playing D, but he hasn’t been asked to do it at this level. If he can, don’t be shocked to see him play and play a lot next season.
Matt McQuaid: guard. Scorer extraordinaire. This kid can light it up. He can put the ball in the basket from anywhere, BUT he needs to spend time in the weight room. If he doesn’t red shirt it will be because he has spent significant time gaining strength and he doesn’t suffer lulls in scoring. He has all the potential to be a great player before all is said in done. Just physically, he has to grow into the talent he has.
Projected 2015-2016 Starting Five
G Lourawls TUM TUM Nairn+
G Denzel Valentine+
G Eron Harris
G Javon Bess*
C Gavin Schilling
*Bess is the biggest question mark. I fully expect the other four spots to be solid. Health and development are the keys for the sophomore.
+Projected 2015-2016 captains
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