Michigan State fans who showed up for the second night of Moneyball on Thursday were met with a couple of notable absences. Coen Carr was nowhere to be seen, and Carlos Medlock Jr., a player many have pegged as a breakout star, was present but didn't hit the court. The buzz around the gym was quickly addressed when SI's Jacob Cotsonika shared that Medlock was nursing a minor hamstring injury.
Now, before anyone starts hitting the panic button, let's take a step back. If Medlock's feeling a bit of tightness in that hamstring, there's no need to push him into action, especially with a well-timed break for the 4th of July coming up. He’ll have ample opportunity to rest and recuperate for the second leg of the Moneyball Pro-Am next month.
Most fans would probably agree that sitting Medlock until after the holiday makes sense, especially if it means he'll be back at full strength. His performance on the opening night of Moneyball left quite an impression.
This freshman point guard is something special, and keeping him healthy is the priority. Hamstrings can be tricky, and you don't want that kind of injury lingering, particularly for a player whose game is all about movement and agility.
Carlos Medlock Jr. promises to be a thrilling player to watch. His debut at Moneyball showed us that he's not one to be kept on the sidelines for long.
Medlock was sinking mid-range shots, showing confidence beyond the arc, and driving to the basket with a mix of craft and speed that had defenders on their heels. He's got the ball-handling skills to attract multiple defenders and the vision to execute drive-and-dish plays or finish creatively at the rim.
A short clip from a couple of weeks ago had already given fans a taste of what Medlock could do, showcasing him scoring against Michigan State starters. His first official Moneyball appearance only added to the excitement.
If Medlock can stay healthy, he's set to be an electrifying presence on the court all season long.
In Other News...
Former Spartan Thomas Kithier Lands Intriguing New Coaching Opportunity
Thomas Kithiers basketball path has taken another turn, and the former Michigan State big man is staying in the game in a new way. After his playing career, Kithier moved into coaching and spent time working under Dwayne Stephens at Western Michigan, a stop that helped build his rsum behind the scenes. For Spartans fans who remember him as a steady rebounder during his time in East Lansing, it is another reminder that his connection to the sport has carried well beyond his college days.
Now Kithier is headed to Utah State, where he is set to join the Aggies staff as a video coordinator and assistant coach. The move keeps him on the rise in the coaching ranks after an early end to his playing career, one shaped by a back injury following his transfer to Valparaiso. The transition has not always been viewed the same way by Michigan State fans, but Kithier is clearly finding a lane in the profession and giving himself another shot to make an impact. [Read more 🡒]
Mat Ishbia Is Quietly Turning The Suns Into A Spartan Operation
Mat Ishbia has never been shy about making the Phoenix Suns reflect his roots, and the latest version of that vision has a familiar East Lansing feel. The Michigan State alum now has Bryan Gregory in the front office, Jordan Ott on the bench, Mateen Cleaves as an assistant coach, and Miles Bridges in the roster mix, giving the franchise a small but notable Spartan footprint in a major NBA market.
For Michigan State fans, it is the kind of cross-sport connection that is hard to miss, especially with Tom Izzo still patrolling the sideline in East Lansing after weighing his own future last offseason. Izzo stayed, and the Spartans kept moving, but Ishbias orbit continues to widen around names that matter in both programs, leaving plenty of reason to watch how deep that Michigan State influence ultimately goes. [Read more 🡒]
Michigans Bryce Underwood Rumor Has Spartans Rolling Their Eyes
Rumors have a way of racing ahead of reality around Michigan, especially when the quarterback conversation gets loud, and this latest one has plenty of people in Ann Arbor and beyond shaking their heads. The talk started on Utah message boards, where an anonymous poster claimed to have heard from a quarterbacks father that Michigan might already be eyeing another answer at the position, even though nothing about the speculation has been confirmed.
For Michigan State fans, the whole thing is mostly useful as a reminder that the Wolverines quarterback picture still feels unsettled. Bryce Underwood remains at the center of the discussion, but Michigan is also looking at other options, including freshman Tommy Carr and transfer Colin Hurley, which only adds fuel to the outside chatter. Whether any of it amounts to more than message-board noise is the part everyone is still waiting to find out. [Read more 🡒]