“Oh, I’d have probably went back home,” Nix said, laughing.

Instead, the 6-foot-8 center weighed in at 280 pounds before Monday’s practice, and expects that number to shrink to about 270 when the Spartans open regular season play Nov. 13 against Florida Gulf Coast.

But while it’s the weight change people notice, it’s what Nix now can do on the court that’s most impressive. He’s a wide-body in the paint, a natural lefty with a good right hand and a player with just “a lot of neat things,” MSU head coach Tom Izzo said.

“The most noticeable is the weight, obviously, but he’s moving so much quicker than last year,” sophomore forward Delvon Roe said.

“Last year and over the summer you saw little bits and bursts of it, and he’d make a good move, but he’d get tired so quickly. Now he’s just getting quicker.”

But don’t think just because Nix has gotten smaller by his formerly supersized-standard he’s any less intimidating.

“When he was on defense and I was on offense, I was about to go to the hole and I just saw a wide body and I had to back up,” junior guard Kalin Lucas said. “I thought, ‘I’m definitely not going in there. He’s too big.’”

It’s that type of inside presence the Spartans need this season if they hope to live up to the lofty expectations bestowed upon them. At every other position, the Spartans know what type of production they’ll get.

But what will come out of the center position is unknown. Monday, Izzo said he expects to start by giving Nix, junior center Tom Herzog and freshman center Garrick Sherman each two sets of about three to four minutes per half. Through the first few practices, each player has shown some impressive moves but questionable decisions. Herzog looks much stronger and more confident than in years past, but still needs to add more weight to his frame. The weight issue is the same for Sherman, although he can handle himself underneath just enough to contribute in his limited playing time.

Although there’s no doubt each will be given a fair crack to make his mark, most of Monday’s talk centered around Nix, and for two good reasons.

One is because of his talent and what he’s already accomplished. The second is for how far he still has to go — not only conditioning-wise, but learning how to play at the Big Ten level.

“He’s moving his feet pretty good, and I’m not disappointed with him one bit — in fact, I’m excited about him,” Izzo said.

“Unfortunately, for what our needs are, we need to have him ahead of where he is.”

Nix won’t be a dominant 25-minute inside player right away. That probably won’t happen until next year. But considering what he’s already accomplished and the weeks remaining before the season opener, he has the best chance to step in and become the 10-to-15 minute change-of-pace bruiser the Spartans need.

Cash Kruth is the State News sports administration reporter. He can be reached at kruthcas@msu.edu.