Remember Goran Suton?

After seeing extended time in MSU's first few games of the season — including 42 crunch-time minutes against then-No. 8 Gonzaga in the EA Sports Maui Invitational — the redshirt freshman forward appeared to be the answer to who would start in the frontcourt alongside senior center Paul Davis.

But during the last few weeks, Suton's playing time has been slowly dwindling. He's played fewer minutes in the last 14 games than he did in the first five and has tallied a total of six points in the last month.

"He's better than he's been playing," MSU head coach Tom Izzo said. "He's a little snake-bit right now."

So what happened?

For one, Suton's 238-pound frame has been exploited by bulkier Big Ten opponents. He got in much better shape last summer, dropping 20 pounds with an improved diet and intense cardiovascular routine, but that's made it harder for him to be physical down low.

"Losing the weight made it a little tougher in the post," Suton said. "I'm not as heavy in there, so it's easier to move me around."

Izzo said that's often the biggest adjustment players make in the transition to collegiate ball.

"When you're physically not ready to handle it, it affects all parts of your game," Izzo said.

Suton is lifting weights "religiously" four times a week to try to get caught up, Izzo added.

"He's not on the basketball lift treatment," Izzo said. "He's on the football lift treatment."

Another drain on Suton's playing time is the presence of several other able-bodied big men. Senior forward Matt Trannon has started the last seven games at power forward, with redshirt freshman forward Marquise Gray the first guy off the bench and junior forward Delco Rowley seeing occasional minutes, as well.

The fact that each has a different strength has allowed Izzo to mix and match them to fit the rest of the lineup.

"(Coach) says we bring something different to the table," Suton said. "Delco's toughness and his leadership and Marquise's athleticism, my European skills or whatever — shooting or passing. We all bring a different thing to the table, so you've got to make a right choice when to use us."

That's a nice luxury to have, Davis said.

"I think we've got some guys that are comfortable coming off the bench," he said. "They see the game, how it's played. Every freshman around the country goes through that."

It's been a difficult process for Izzo trying to bring Suton along. He wants, even demands that Suton be more physical, and he pushes him as hard as anyone in practice. But he's also careful not to shatter the 20-year-old's psyche.

"Confidence is going to be a key," Izzo said. "I think more of it falls on me than him."

It's been frustrating for Suton, too, but he recognizes what his role is right now.

"I'm not going to lie — I'd love to play more," Suton said. "But you've got to understand what's best for the team and what's best for me."

There's a possibility Suton could be moved back to the scout team in practice to relieve some of the pressure on him, but Izzo said whatever the solution, Suton is too good a player to be buried on the bench.

"We need Goran because he gives us another dimension in there," Izzo said. "I still think he's an important piece if we're going to make the run that I think we can make."