The Michigan State Spartans were one of the best teams in all of college basketball this past season and were picked by many to win the national championship. As many people now know, the Spartans were stunned in the first round by Middle Tennessee State and were forced to look forward to next season earlier than they expected.
The Spartans' outlook every year is typically very good because they have a great coach in Tom Izzo and one of the best programs in the nation. Next year, though, was looking especially bright because they have a great recruiting class coming in and some guys they expected to have returning. The last couple of days have dulled next year's outlook for Michigan State, though.
It all started on Monday night when Josh Jackson, one of the top recruits in the 2016 class, announced he will play for Kansas next season over his hometown school Michigan State. The Spartans thought they had a very real shot at Jackson because of the home state connection and the fact that his good friend Miles Bridges had been recruiting him hard, but that didn't happen.
To add to that pain, on Tuesday afternoon freshman standout Deyonta Davis announced he would enter the NBA Draft and hire an agent. Davis is projected to be a lottery pick in the draft so this isn't a huge surprise, but there was some hope he might return since he didn't get that much playing time as a freshman. As a freshman Davis averaged 7.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game while also setting the MSU record for blocks by a freshman with 64.
On top of missing out on Jackson and Davis leaving early, former Spartans Marvin Clark and Javon Bess will also be transferring. Michigan State already knew they wouldn't have Denzel Valentine and Bryn Forbes back next season, but some of those other players they expected to be back. With all of the turnover happening, how good can we expect Michigan State to be next season?
The answer is still pretty darn good. The Spartans will have Eron Harris, Matt Mcquaid and Tum Tum Nairn back among others, and although there isn't star power there the incoming freshman class has star power potential. The Spartans will bring in the third best class in the nation next season, even without Jackson, that features two McDonald's All-Americans in Miles Bridges and Josh Langford. On top of those two five-star recruits Michigan State also will bring in two four-star recruits in Cassius Winston and Nick Ward who are both ranked in the top 50.
This Michigan State team will have less experience than its used to, but it's not like they're completely without it. This is one of Izzo's best recruiting classes ever, too, so while it is tough to rely so heavily on freshmen, like the Spartans probably will, you just know Izzo will have them ready come conference play and the postseason.
Next year's Michigan State team won't be as much of a sure thing as this past season's team was, but they may have a higher ceiling due to all of the talent. Their floor also is likely lower than any MSU team in recent memory, but either way they should be a fun team to watch and as always will be a threat when March rolls around.
