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Welcome to The Final Four Is Not on the Schedule discussion board. A forum for the serious and casual MSU fan. Opinions welcome – stay respectful.
So the roster seems likely to look like this:
PGs: Hoggard - Holloman - Fears
SGs/Wings: Akins - Walker (has implied he is leaning on coming back) - Normand - Carr
Bigs: Sissoko - Kohler - Cooper - Booker - Hall
Not sure about Brooks. I hope he comes back but I think he will choose to go where he would play more.
This roster looks great. The only concern I have, and it might not really be an issue, is the degree of progress we see out of our bigs. One reason I hope Hall comes back is that he would be a senior leader for the group.
I imagine the starting group would be Hoggard - Walker - Akins - Hall - Sissoko, which I like because they are all upperclassmen and that would take some pressure off this incoming class.
If Sissoko can improve just a bit on offense (post game and free throws) I think he could average 8 and 8 playing about 24 minutes a game. I hope Cooper gets strong enough to be a real defensive presence against some of the conference bigs next year. I think Booker will need to put on at least 20 pounds to be effective for extended minutes.
The backcourt would likely be one of the best in the country and our front court should be stronger than last year with all of the bigs improving and replacing Hauser (who was great this year) with Booker will only be a slight negative. I am not down on Booker, but Hauser was so steady this year.
If Brooks comes back, by the way, Izzo will fill all 13 scholarships and that should keep some fans from griping.
Here are my questions for next year and my guesses (based on gut feelings more than anything):
- Which freshmen is most likely to have the biggest impact? I am guessing Booker or Carr because they will have the most opportunity.
- Who will be the biggest surprise? I hope Brooks, but I am going to guess Holloman or Normand.
- Who will take the biggest leap? Akins or Cooper or Kohler
- Team’s greatest strength: depth - shooting? - defense? - versatility?
- Team’s greatest weakness: stopping short, fast dynamic point guards or 7’4” bigs
- Who will we want to have the ball at clutch time? Walker or Hoggard?
You're starting lineup is interesting as that'd leave a bench of Holloman, Fears, Normand, Carr, Booker, Kohler and Cooper. Wow, those 6 could be a decent core all by themselves.
We'll be super deep, but I hope Walker and Hall come back as well.
I'll be surprised if Brooks doesn't transfer. Basketball-wise, I don't see room for minutes for him.
The returning regulars all should have the normal MSU, continued improvement into next season. This year's team was very likeable and I wish there were more games, but looking forward to next year!
Kindness is free.
@houseizzorockin Good point in highlighting that group not starting: the starters would have some intense practices/scrimmages going against Fears/Holloman - Normand - Carr - Booker - Cooper/Kohler.