The No. 22 MSU women's basketball team is having one of those set-up seasons.
That is to say, this season will set up for greater success next season, and in turn, be the first season in a long line of successful ones in the future.
The MSU men's basketball team had a similar year in 1997-98, when head coach Tom Izzo had a talented group of sophomores (Mateen Cleaves, Morris Peterson, David Thomas and A.J. Granger) and was able to give some freshmen (Andre Hutson and Charlie Bell) major minutes, including numerous starts.
For the MSU women this season, sophomores Lindsay Bowen and Liz Shimek have started every game. The two have the toughness and ability to take the women's program to the next level, but they can't do it alone, nor will they have to.
Like the 1997-98 men's team, the women's team has been able to play freshmen quite a bit this season. While it may not have been by choice, the freshmen getting so much time definitely will pan out down the road.
Five freshmen have played this season for head coach Joanne P. McCallie, with three of the five playing in every game. The group consists of three guards and two forwards, with a combined 19 starts as of Wednesday.
This season, everyone has overlooked the Spartans. They have won enough games to be considered one of the Top 25 throughout most of the season, but have lost enough to stay in the shadows of some of the top teams in the conference.
But hey, this is a team that, for the most part, only plays 10 players, and seven of those players are freshmen or sophomores and only one is a senior.
Again, this is all a setup for next season. Sure, they are playing to win every game and for senior Julie Pagel to go out with a great senior season, but next season is what this season is all about now.
They aren't going to win the Big Ten title, like the 1997-98 men's team, but they will be a tough out in the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments.
A team who doesn't have to learn to win on the road, but needs to learn to win at home. A 9-3 road record with an overtime win and several close games have given the Spartans the road warrior tag. Two home losses to Iowa and Ohio State, games which looked winnable on paper, were lost.
After all is said and done, the Spartans should have a similar record to the 22-8 record the men's team had in 1997-98. They should also make it to the Sweet Sixteen, like the men's team of 1997-98.
Looking to next season, the Spartans will also have a solid senior class and a very talented incoming freshman class.
Juniors Kristin Haynie and Kelli Roehrig will be the leaders of a very deep and experienced MSU squad next season. Haynie is a point guard, who, going into next season, will have been a three-year starter under McCallie. At center, Roehrig will be a force inside, and as a senior, should be a go-to player inside for MSU.
When you consider the experience MSU will have, the expectations for next season should be high. While much of that will depend on how the Spartans finish this year, there are things the four newcomers will bring next season.
Over the last three seasons, including the current one, MSU has had its share of injuries and a lack of players. Nine healthy last season and 12 this season can make it difficult to practice. Think that isn't an issue, then ask Izzo about his 2001-02 team.
Next season, MSU will have 14 players healthy for practice, barring injuries, and could find itself in a similar position as the men's team of 1998-99 - a Final Four.
To find out what happens, stay tuned to what's left of the women's basketball season and tune in next season.
J. Ryan Mulcrone is the State News women's basketball reporter. You can reach him at mulcron3@msu.edu.
