This season, two things were clear for MSU: they lacked the depth to compete with the elite, and injuries to key players were a hurdle too high to overcome.
Coach Izzo reflected on his future, stating, “They’ll talk about retirement. Why?
What the hell am I gonna do?” He emphasized his commitment, saying, “The minute I don't feel good, the minute I don't feel like I'm giving my all, you don't have to worry about it.”
The team faced significant setbacks with injuries to top transfers Kaleb Glenn and Divine Ugochukwu. Glenn, sidelined before the season, was expected to back up Coen Carr, but his absence left a gap. Glenn had averaged 12.6 points and 4.8 rebounds at FAU, and his loss meant MSU’s core had to step up.
The situation worsened when Ugochukwu broke his foot against Minnesota in February, leaving MSU without their starting shooting guard. Freshman Jordan Scott was thrust into the role, initially showing promise with 20 minutes per game. However, the pressure of crucial games took its toll, and Scott struggled to maintain his early intensity.
During a critical matchup against UConn, Scott scored just five points with three rebounds. His roommate, freshman Cam Ward, also found the Sweet Sixteen stage challenging, contributing two points and six boards.
Coach Izzo acknowledged the team’s struggles, stating, “I got to give UConn a lot of credit, but, man, we didn't look like ourselves. That's got to fall on the coach. I gotta get them ready to do that.”
Last offseason, Izzo brought in four transfers, but only two finished the season. Seniors Denham Wojcik and Trey Fort were part of Izzo’s strategy to bolster the team through the transfer portal. While other schools revamped their rosters, MSU remained loyal to its core players.
This year’s new faces averaged 9.7 points per game, while UConn’s transfers contributed 30.3 points, even as they started three homegrown players. MSU’s original recruits accounted for 92% of their scoring, with UConn’s at 70.5%.
Despite the challenges, lessons from this season will resonate with the team. With changes expected in the post, MSU’s lineup will look different without Carson Cooper and Jaxon Kohler.
“I got some things to accomplish,“ Izzo said, expressing his determination to return to the top. MSU boasts the No. 2 recruiting class, featuring four-star seven-footer Ethan Taylor and three other four-star recruits: guard Carlos Medlock Jr., forward Julius Avent, and guard Jasiah Jervis.
The incoming freshmen might not be enough to dominate the paint, so transfer help is likely, even if reluctantly pursued by Izzo. “The portal at Michigan State is different than the portal at most places,“ he remarked. “I'm going right to my freaking locker room.“
Izzo remains driven, with MSU having reached the national championship twice, alongside eight Final Fours and 17 Sweet Sixteens. The ultimate goal is still to lift the trophy.
“We made a run at it. Fell a little short, but all in all, I've been blessed to have an incredible couple of years with those seniors,“ Izzo said.
“So I'm the luckiest guy in the world. I'm just not lucky enough to be playing on Sunday.
I'll get to play on another Sunday; hang around.”