Michigan State Basketball: Spartans season review

Despite an opening round NCAA Tournament loss, Michigan State basketball enjoyed another strong season in 2015-16.

If you hang around college basketball long enough, you’ll find that even the surest of things can prove to be anything but. Such is the way 2015-16 ended for the Michigan State Spartans, an outfit that has been a beacon of consistency in an age of increased parity around the country.

While their opening round NCAA Tournament loss to Middle Tennessee State left Green and White Nation in stunned disbelief, the defeat served as a further testament to just how good Tom Izzo and company have been during his time in East Lansing.

The Blue Raiders’ 90-81 win represented the first time Michigan State had been beaten in their NCAA Tourney opener since 2011. In that case, the Spartans fell to No. 7 seed UCLA 78-76 as the No. 10 seed in the Southeast Region.

Before that, Michigan State’s last first round loss dates all the way back to 2006 when an upstart school named George Mason downed the Spartans 75-65 in the Washington D.C. Regional.

In other words, the Spartans have almost always come through with big performances at the Big Dance. Unfortunately, Michigan State was sent home early in 2015-16 when many considered them a threat to win it all.

A sour taste perhaps, but there is no doubt the Spartans put together another outstanding season in 2015-16.

They went 29-6 overall and 13-5 in the Big Ten. Michigan State also claimed a fifth Big Ten Tourney title and garnered a No. 2 seed once the NCAA Tournament’s pairings were announced in March. To top it off, senior guard Denzel Valentine featured prominently on the national scene, being named NABC Coaches’ Division I Player of the Year and gaining a place on the John R. Wooden Award’s All-America Team.

Add it all up and it was another year of excellence within the friendly confines of the Breslin Center.

The new question for Michigan State is how it will replace Valentine, Bryn Forbes and Matt Costello heading into next season. Considering the senior trio averaged just under 45 points to go along with 18 rebounds and connected on 218 three-point shots in 2015-16, there will be plenty of holes for Izzo and his coaching staff to fill.

Still, this is Michigan State, which inevitably means there won’t be any lack of bonafide talent taking the court in 2016-17.

How quickly that talent comes together remains to be seen.

Eron Harris figures to step forward and become a primary offensive weapon after the 6-foot-3 guard averaged 9.3 points per game this season. He, along with a hopefully-healthy Lourawls Nairn, Jr., should provide a solid back-court foundation from which the Spartans can build.

With Deyonta Davis off to the NBA and Marvin Clark, Jr. and Javon Bess transferring to other programs, the contributions of Harris and Nairn will become even more important for a team in transition.

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Thankfully, the Spartans welcome an outstanding recruiting class to East Lansing.

Michigan State’s crop is ranked as the nation’s fourth best group by ESPN and features two five-star prospects in Flint, Mich. small forward Miles Bridges and Huntsville, Ala. shooting guard Josh Langford. With Detroit native Cassius Winston and center Nick Ward out of Gahanna, Ohio also in the mix, the Spartans’ class carries plenty of promise.

Given the reality of a young and largely inexperienced roster heading into 2016-17, all four will likely need to make immediate contributions for Michigan State to continue holding their lofty status in both the Big Ten and national polls.

There could also be some early growing pains as the Spartans attempt to forge an identity through the season’s first few weeks.

Don’t expect those struggles to last indefinitely however. Izzo is a master of his craft and should have Michigan State on an upward trajectory once February and March roll around. Under his leadership, the Spartans have made 19 consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament. Expect that streak to reach 20 once the 2016-17 season is said and done.

2015-16 Season

Overall Record: 29-6

Big 10 Record: 13-5 (Second)

All-Conference: Denzel Valentine (Big 10 Player of the Year, coaches and media), Bryn Forbes (2^nd Team, coaches and media), Matt Costello (2^nd team, media; 3^rd team, coaches).

Conference Tournament: Champions (fifth title).

NCAA Tournament: Lost to Middle Tennessee State, 90-81 (First Round).

Early 2016-17 season lookahead

Losses: Valentine, Forbes, Costello, Deyonta Davis (NBA Draft), Marvin Clark, Jr. (transfer-St. John’s), Javon Bess (transfer), Colby Wollenman.

Returners: Kyle Ahrens (6-5 guard), Alvin Ellis III (6-4 guard), Lourawls Nairn, Jr. (5-10 guard), George Conner (6-3 guard), Eron Harris (6-3 guard), Matt McQuaid (6-5 guard), Kenny Goins (6-6 forward), Matt Van Dyk (6-5 forward), Gavin Schilling (6-9 forward), Greg Roy (6-3 guard).

Next: Too soon top 25

Newcomers: Miles Bridges (6-7 forward, Flint, Mich.), Josh Langford (6-5 guard, Huntsville, Ala.), Cassius Winston (6-1 guard, Detroit, Mich.), Nick Ward (6-8 center, Gahanna, Ohio).

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