Key Reasons to Be Excited for Michigan State Basketball

Michigan State fans need some positivity right now.

Mar 23, 2025; Cleveland, OH, USA; Michigan State Spartans forward Coen Carr (55) celebrates after the game against the New Mexico Lobos during the NCAA Tournament Second Round at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Things are not going well for the Michigan State football team right now, but let’s take the focus away from that group and spin things in a more positive light. 

The Spartan basketball team is preparing for the 2025-26 season after a run to the Elite Eight. MSU fell just short of a Final Four appearance, and Tom Izzo is itching to get to his ninth. 

Izzo lost lots of production from last year’s team, but he has reloaded his roster in the past and remained great. His returning talent should keep the team as a Big Ten contender. 

What should Spartan fans be excited about when it comes to this hoops team? Let’s break down three positive elements of this MSU squad. 

Coen Carr dunks 

Mar 28, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; Michigan State Spartans forward Coen Carr (55) dunks against Mississippi Rebels forward Malik Dia (0) in the second half of a South Regional semifinal of the 2025 NCAA tournament at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images

No dunker is more explosive than Carr. 

As his game develops and he becomes a more complete player, the highlight posters and fastbreak slams excite fans across the country. Carr should continue to soar through the sky and terrify rims. 

Every backdoor cut, pick and roll, and lob pass should worry opposing defenses, because Carr will be back to jump over them every game. 

Better shooting – probably 

Mar 21, 2025; Cleveland, OH, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Jeremy Fears Jr. (1) shoots the ball in the second half against the Bryant University Bulldogs during the NCAA Tournament First Round at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

It’s hard to be worse than MSU was at shooting the three-ball in 2024-25. 

The Spartans were near the bottom of the country in three-point percentage last season, which ultimately doomed them against Auburn in that Elite Eight game. But things should improve this season – theoretically. 

The addition of Trey Fort, plus the growth from Carr, Jeremy Fears Jr., and Jaxon Kohler, should make this Spartan team more dangerous from beyond the arc. That will lead to higher scoring games, and the MSU defense will do the rest. 

Tom Izzo is still the coach 

Michigan State's coach Tom Izzo instructs the team during the first day of basketball practice on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. | Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

MSU fans finally learned not to take Izzo for granted last season. 

After a few down seasons, Izzo reminded the country why he is one of the greatest coaches the game of basketball has ever seen. It took some addition by subtraction to get the team rolling again, but the Spartans are back atop the Big Ten as they should be. 

Few media outlets have picked MSU to win the conference, but they should still be considered among the best teams in the Big Ten. The Spartans have snuck up on the conference before, and they can do it again.

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