Everything Is Gonna Be All Right

Spartan fans are worried. Don’t be.

Shannon Brown officially entered the NBA draft this week and the Big Three from the 2005-2006 Michigan State men’s basketball team, Brown, Paul Davis and Maurice Ager are gone. So is 74% of the Spartan’s offense.

However, the Big Ten has lost eighteen of its top 22 scorers and many teams graduated their top players. Illinois lost Dee Brown and James Augustine, U of M lost Daniel Horton and Indiana is in trouble in general due to transfers and recruiting sanctions. Wisconsin and Ohio State are in great shape, with the Buckeyes the pre-season favorites to run-away with the Big Ten Title.

But Spartan fans only need to think back to the 2001-2002 season. This was the year after three straight Final Four appearances and the departures of Andre Hutson, Charlie Bell, Jason Richardson and Zach Randolph.

That year Marcus Taylor stepped up his game and led the Big Ten in assists and points per game. He increased his points per game from 7.4 PPG in his freshman year to 16.8 as a sophomore. Drew Neitzel certainly has the capability of doing this.

The Spartans are solid in the frontcourt, although Marquise Gray is out for the summer due to another fracture in his foot. This will set his development back even more. But Goran Suton has shown flashes of solid play and incoming freshman Raymar Morgan has the versatility to play the three or four and could guard the opponents three or four. If Drew Naymick stays healthy and can provide five to ten points per game the frontcourt will be fine.

Michigan State will be weak in the backcourt though. Maurice Joseph has potential, but needs to become consistent. Travis Walton is a lock down defender and solid point guard. He needs to improve his jump shot. Isaiah Dahlman will have lots of opportunities to shine as a true freshman. He was a scorer and a winner in high school after leading his Braham High School Bombers to three state titles and scoring the second most points in the history of Minnesota prep basketball.

The class of 2007 recruits has superstars Kalin Lucas, Durrell Summers and Chris Allen setting up a prolific backcourt. Coach Izzo should really consider adding a fourth guard in Darquavis Tucker because Summers is projecting as a small forward in college. The Spartans need to add depth to their thin backcourt over the next couple of years.

Michigan State won’t win the Big Ten next year, but they will make the NCAA tournament. Next year’s team will be a throw back to the days of Antonio Smith and the hard-nosed defense and good rebounding that built MSU into an elite program.

The Spartans will miss Brown’s talent and athleticism next year, but Izzo and the crew will find a way to be successful.