Less star power, more experience

The Spartans lost star forwards Jaren Jackson Jr. and Miles Bridges to the NBA draft earlier this year. However, what they are lacking in athleticism, they make up for in experience, according to coach Tom Izzo.

“There’s no question that we lost a lot," Izzo said. “There’s also some new sense of optimism, because sometimes talent doesn’t win out over experience and right now I think we're pretty experienced.”

The starting five for Izzo’s team going into the new season is expected to primarily be composed of upperclassman, a change from last season’s all-underclassman line up. 

“We were very young,” Izzo said. “This year, we have seven returning rotation players … So that experience I’m hoping will help us.”

Having the experience will definitely pay dividends come March. The last time MSU had an all-upperclassman starting five was the 2014-15 season, the same year the Spartans made it all the way to the Final Four.

“I’ve got a Big Ten Tournament championship, a Big Ten regular season championship, I just need a Final Four run now,” senior captain Matt McQuaid said.

It’s a coin-flip between Goins and Tillman

Both Xavier Tillman’s and Kenny Goins’ names have been thrown around as the favorites to round out the starting five that will likely also consist of guards Cassius Winston, McQuaid and Joshua Langford and forward Nick Ward.

“I really think that if we went tomorrow or tonight, we would start the three juniors (Winston, Langford and Ward),” Izzo said. “I think McQuaid would probably start, and then the coinflip is Kenny (Goins) or Xavier (Tillman)."

Though Izzo claims Tillman has improved immensely from last season, Goins has the edge when it comes to experience on the court. As to who gets the job, Izzo may be looking for the more experienced of the two to garner more of the court time.

“Xavier might start, but I think that he gives us more off the bench, so I’m going to have to look at that” Izzo said."

Tillman has improved, a lot

Tillman opened some eyes in his freshman season with the Spartans, averaging 2.8 points and 2.6 rebounds in just over eight minutes per game. And the sophomore may be primed for a breakout season. 

“It sounds like everybody’s made progress, but nobody, nobody on our whole team has made more progress than Xavier Tillman,” Izzo said. “He fits right in there with Josh (Langford) and Quaido (McQuaid) that he’s a gym rat, he’s one of the more tenacious workers.”

Tillman enters this season 15 pounds lighter, and is coming off an offseason in which he worked to get lighter and more athletic. 

“He’s worked to change his body, he’s worked to change his mind, his approach to school,” Izzo said. “He’s worked to change his shot. You watch him now, he definitely can shoot threes. He’s a tenacious rebounder and I think the loss of the weight has made him a much better athlete.”

Tillman said he expects to display his improved shooting this season. 

"I’m shooting a lot on the outside compared to last year, (where I was) not even attempting to shoot the ball,” Tillman said. “Overall, my scoring ability and my confidence has just gone through the roof compared to last year.”

Despite 30 wins, the Spartans fell short last season

MSU was knocked out of the NCAA tournament in the round of 32 for the second straight season, leaving many fans quite unhappy despite a 30-win season in which they won the Big Ten outright. 

According to Izzo, his team's lack of success may have been due to its struggles to adjust to different situations throughout the season, including its struggles against Syracuse's zone defense in the NCAA Tournament.

“I played one play of zone last season to start the season, in honor of Jud. ... Do you need some versatility in your game? Maybe," Izzo said. "I think it’s healthy to look at changing up some things and adjusting." Izzo said.

Izzo made it clear he will be making some changes this season to help his team better adapt to the changing game.

“I won’t be stale this year,” Izzo said. “That’s a promise.”