Michigan State, poised for another tourney run, opens vs. Monmouth

Michigan State enters its 30th season under head coach Tom Izzo unranked and without last year's preseason expectations, which could be a good thing.

The Spartans were projected as a top-five team before the 2023-24 campaign but were one of the country's more disappointing teams.

Michigan State did extend its streak of NCAA tournament appearances to 26 years, but the Spartans hope they can achieve more than just making it 27 in a row come March as they tip off the season Monday against Monmouth in East Lansing, Mich.

Despite losing its top three scorers from a 20-15 team, Michigan State should be solid at the guard position behind senior Jaden Akins (10.4 ppg in 2023-24) and junior Tre Holloman (5.7 ppg). Promising sophomore point guard Jeremy Fears (3.5 ppg in 12 games) is also back, but he is getting his game up to speed after being shot in the leg last December and missing the second half of the season.

Along the frontcourt, the Spartans expect a big jump from sophomore Xavier Booker (3.7 ppg) and also welcome senior forward Frankie Fidler, an Omaha transfer who averaged 20.1 points a game last year and brings size and length along the wing.

"I could start nine different people right now in my mind," said Izzo, who will turn 70 on Jan. 30. "And yet, (I'm) trying to separate that a little bit in my mind. But also the freshmen are going to take a little time."

Meanwhile, Monmouth was picked to finish eighth in the Coastal Athletic Association preseason poll.

Sophomore forward Jaret Valencia (8.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg in 2023-24) was named to the CAA's preseason second team while junior guard Jack Collins (10.7 ppg) was an honorable mention selection.

The Hawks will play their first 11 games away from home, but head coach King Rice said that's just how it is for a smaller program.

"Hopefully it's not a thing we have to do this every year," he said. "But this year, with NIL and all the other things, and our budgets, we had to bite the bullet this year and play these high-major games."

--Field Level Media