Michigan State basketball faced significant changes last offseason, with a wave of departures to the transfer portal, graduation, and the pros. Key players like Frankie Fidler, Szymon Zapala, and Jaden Akins graduated, leaving substantial gaps in the lineup. Jase Richardson declared for the NBA draft after just one season, while Tre Holloman, Xavier Booker, and Gehrig Normand opted for the transfer portal.
Holloman's transfer decision caught many by surprise. Seen as a perfect fit for Michigan State, he was expected to play a major role with Richardson and Akins moving on. Instead, he chose NC State, taking on a similar role for a team that barely made it into the NCAA Tournament, facing Texas in the First Four.
Booker's departure was less surprising, and Normand's move to seek more playing time at a smaller school was expected. Both left a Big Ten champion squad for NCAA Tournament teams, with Booker joining UCLA and Normand heading to Santa Clara.
Despite an injury keeping Normand sidelined all season, Santa Clara made the NCAA Tournament for the first time in three decades. Booker, on the other hand, has been contributing around 20 minutes per game for a UCLA team that recently defeated Michigan State in the Big Ten Tournament, riding a hot streak into March.
As the tournament unfolds, three former Spartans are vying for the national title.
Let's take a closer look at their paths:
Xavier Booker and UCLA, seeded seventh, are in the same region as Michigan State. A potential matchup with the Spartans looms in the second weekend if they advance past UConn.
UCLA, fresh off a victory over Michigan State, opens against UCF and could face the winner of UConn vs. Furman.
Gehrig Normand and Santa Clara, a 10-seed, will battle Kentucky, a team Michigan State defeated earlier this season. A win would set up a clash with the victor of Iowa State vs.
Tennessee State. They find themselves in a tough Midwest region.
Tre Holloman and NC State squeezed into the tournament as one of the last at-large selections. They'll face Texas in the First Four, with hopes of moving on to play BYU and potentially the winner of Gonzaga vs.
Kennesaw State. Holloman's path includes a potential showdown with Purdue.
While none of the former Spartans have an easy journey, there's a chance Michigan State might encounter one of them in the Sweet 16. The tournament's drama is just beginning, and these storylines add an intriguing layer to the madness of March.