Coen Carr is already drawing eye-catching national player of the year buzz for 2026-27, and the number attached to him is the kind that makes you do a double take.
The Michigan State forward has been handed surprisingly strong preseason odds by the sportsbooks, according to college hoops expert Ant Wright. In a Big Ten conversation that starts with Jeremy Fears Jr., Carr still managed to land in rare air. Fears is the obvious headliner from Michigan State and has earned the right to be the league’s favorite for the award, but Carr is right there as a name worth watching too.
Among Big Ten players, Carr has the sixth-best odds to win national player of the year. He’s ahead of Moustapha Thiam, John Mobley, and Aiden Sherrell, and he’s tied with Pryce Sandfort and Andrej Stojakovic. That’s a pretty loud signal for a player who still doesn’t always get the full respect his game deserves beyond the highlight-reel dunks.
The betting market is clearly buying the idea that Carr is becoming more than just an above-the-rim threat. If someone wants to take a big swing on him to win the award, a $100 bet would return $6,000.
As always, bet wisely.
What makes this even more interesting is how far Carr has come at Michigan State. When he arrived as a freshman, the scouting report was simple: explosive dunker, useful defender, and not much else.
He played 11.6 minutes per game that season, took 63 shots across 35 games, and most of those finishes came at the rim. He averaged 3.1 points and 1.8 rebounds, shot 65.1% from the floor, didn’t attempt a three, and hit 56 percent of his free throws.
His sophomore year brought a step forward. Carr knocked down 5-of-15 from deep, raised his free throw percentage to 70.1%, and bumped his production to 8.1 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. The raw tools were still obvious, but the game was starting to open up.
Then came the junior season, when he really started to blossom. Carr only hit 21-of-76 from three, but he also set a career high with 90 made free throws.
He expanded his offensive game with mid-range jumpers, took five times as many threes as he had the year before, worked on his ball-handling, and sharpened things on defense. The result was a much more complete player, even if there’s still another level to reach.
That’s the point of 2026-27. If Carr keeps cleaning up the offensive details and holds onto that defensive edge, he has a real path to first-team All-Big Ten honors and a legitimate shot at national player of the year.
In Other News...
Jaxon Kohlers Next Move Just Got More Complicated For Michigan State
Jaxon Kohlers summer keeps giving Michigan State fans a reason to keep one eye on the roster and the other on the pro path. The former Spartan got a solid run with the Utah Jazz in NBA Summer League, coming off the bench and scoring nine points in a game that showed he can hold his own against NBA-level competition while still leaving his long-term plans very much in motion.
For Michigan State, the intrigue is bigger than one good night in July. Kohlers future still has multiple possible directions, and the next step could shape whether the Spartans are even part of the conversation if he decides to keep playing college basketball. For now, the only certainty is that his stock is still active, and his decision is going to matter well beyond Las Vegas. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana Just Raised A Question Michigan State Fans Wont Ignore
Indianas latest football surge has gone beyond wins and buzz, and the recruiting trail is starting to show it. Curt Cignetti just pulled in a commitment that stands out even in a program trying to reset its ceiling, giving the Hoosiers one of the biggest victories in their recent history and a signal that their momentum is resonating with top-end talent.
For Michigan State fans, the larger question is hard to miss: if Indiana can make that kind of leap, why not the Spartans under Pat Fitzgerald? The comparison is not perfect, but it does put a familiar kind of hope back on the table, especially for a fan base that knows how quickly a programs recruiting profile can change when the results start to follow. [Read more 🡒]
The 5 Returning Spartans Who Matter Most After MSUs Roster Reset
Michigan States football roster has been reshaped in a hurry, with 45 players leaving through the transfer portal and 32 newcomers arriving to fill the gaps. In a reset that dramatic, the Spartans are leaning on a small group of returners to provide some continuity, and that makes players like receiver Chrishon McCray, offensive lineman Conner Moore, defensive tackle Ben Roberts, linebacker Jordan Hall and quarterback Alessio Milivojevic especially important as the program tries to settle into a new look.
McCrays path back to East Lansing was not straightforward, but his presence gives the offense a needed known commodity. Moores value goes beyond where he lines up, Roberts remains a key piece inside when he is available, Hall brings both production and leadership, and Milivojevic is the one who can help steady the most important position on the field. In a year when so much has changed, those five are the returners who can make the biggest difference in whether the Spartans feel rebuilt or merely reassembled. [Read more 🡒]