Podcast: Is MSU Hoops Set Up for Future Success?
Michigan State basketball is returning four players who were vital to last season's Big Ten title and NCAA Tournament run.
But the Spartans will likely lose the majority of that group after next season, if not all of it. That begs the question: Is Michigan State still set up for success after those players depart?
Most of those left over have yet to prove themselves, and that may have fans feeling a little uneasy about the stability of this program that just got back to prominence. But there's still a full season in between and a lot of time for those players to take a leap and develop before they're tasked with heavier responsibilities down the road.
Our Aidan Champion discusses this on this latest episode of the Michigan State Spartans Insider Podcast.
You can watch the episode below:
Michigan State freshman forward Cam Ward addressed the media at the Moneyball Pro-Am last week. Below is a partial transcript:
On how he and fellow freshman forward Jordan Scott built familiarity ...
Ward: "I've known Jordan since I was 9 years old. We've been playing against each other since we were 9. His mom and my mom are good friends now, for sure. I've known him since I was 9. So, we've been playing against each other all the way through high school, we played him this year of high school, actually. So, I got to play him this year in the Washington Wizards Classic, so we were on TV and everything, so it was just a big thing.
"But that's my dog. He's my roommate, becoming one of my better friends. We have a good relationship and always just take care of each other."
On the adjustment so far ...
Ward: "It's definitely been an adjustment, to be honest with you. Definitely trying to learn the terminology, learn all the plays, all the directions, calls. That's definitely been the biggest change, but my teammates, they make it real easy, talking to Jax (Jaxon Kohler), talking to Coop (Carson Cooper), just more so the guys that play the 4 and the 3 -- Coen (Carr), Trey (Fort) -- those guys are helping me get accustomed to how (Tom) Izzo wants his ship ran, and I think that's the best part about the team, just helping me."
On playing the primarily the 4 ...
Izzo: "Around the 4-3 area, that's what Izz has me playing right now, the 3 and the 4. Just because we're so heavy at the 3, right now, we have a lot of 3s, a lot of wings right now. So, just right now, we got me playing with the 4, more so just backing up Jax, making sure that he's good, he gets his rest.
"And then also, just coming in and being a Swiss Army knife. He got me switching 1 through 5. So, they want me to guard everybody, want me to hit shots, facilitate, do everything on the court. just be a pest and just outwork everybody."
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