Answering Your Michigan State Basketball Questions and Emails…
Hondo, on the radio show this week you had Rexrode, Charboneau, and one other person (can’t remember name sorry) on and you each
agreed that Derrick Nix will be back, “If he wants to.â€Â Can you explain what that means? I can’t imagine whether or not he returns
being up to the young man. –Kim
Kim, I got so many comments and questions on this I was actually surprised. To his credit, Tom Izzo (unless more information comes out then we presently know and I don’t expect that) gives people second chances.  I applaud that. It will be up to Derrick to decide if he is willing to pay the price that Izzo will ask and he has to really look at it hard to make the decision.
Hondo, recently you were talking about leadership being the biggest key for the Spartans in 2012-2013. Don’t you think that they can do it collectively? –Doug
No, I don’t think leadership can be a collective thing. In fact, Izzo agreed with me that this is the biggest question mark on the team. There
is an old adage in football that if you have two quarterbacks you have no quarterback. Next year’s team WILL NOT be stopped by talent; it will come down to leadership.
Hondo, there has been a lot said and wrote about Derrick Nix being a leader next year. With his issues, who is left? –Mike
Great question! I never expected Derrick to live that roll, even before the issue. I think the only candidate at this time is Travis Trice. He has already shown glimpses of that talent and ability and I think he will be the straw that stirs the Spartan drink next year on the court.
Hondo, I caught an interview late when you were discussing Tom Izzo’s best season’s coaching. Can you tell me where this past one lined up and wouldn’t the national championship team be the best? –Justin
I said that in my opinion, the 2007 team (Neitzel’s junior year) was by far his best. That team came into the year HOPING to just keep the NCAA streak alive. They were an injured Idong Ibok shoulder from beating UNC in North Carolina and a sweet sixteen. That wasn’t a great coaching job that was an amazing coaching job.  This past season would be the second best in my opinion. As far as they went was mind boggling. As
far as the national championship season, I would take another approach. Tom did such a good job molding that team in previous seasons that the national title year they were a player coached team. It didn’t take the coaching that last year or the 2007 did because of his previous coaching job.
Hondo, can you make your prediction for the starting lineup next year? –Stan
C Payne, G Appling, G Harris, G Trice, F Dawson
Hondo, with the success of Spartan basketball, it is only natural to expect we will lose another assistant for a head coach job.  Who is in line to be the next assistant? -Nathan
I think Eric Snow would be the top choice, but so should Michael Curry. They both were interested last time and would be great additions to the Izzo staff.
Hondo, Izzo talks all the time about summer being so critical for players. Who needs to have the biggest summer in your estimation? –Kurt
Well, with the recent Nix issues you could say Derrick, but before Derrick had his problem I have said it would be Russell Byrd. He has had some rough times at MSU with injuries. This time it is about him and his want to. He needs to have a great summer, especially considering how his past summers were for naught. Healthy, he will have to work through pain and mental hurdles. I know that he can, it is up to him if he does.
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