Michigan State Basketball: Spartans 2021-22 season preview and outlook
By Ryan Kay
Starting frontcourt players
PF – SR Joey Hauser
The Spartans need him to produce on the offensive end for this upcoming season, as he will be a full-time starter this season at the power forward position. Coach Izzo has in the past been very high on Hauser’s potential and the Michigan State faithful are hoping that he can have a stellar season this year.
Hauser is not the tallest and or most physically imposing big man on the court but he is more than able to be a productive power forward in the Big Ten and his level of play could increase to where he is an integral part of helping Michigan State be successful this season. Hauser to his credit has great vision and is considered a good, proven passer as well as a slightly above average defender and can be a stretch four with his ability to shoot from the outside.
The expectations have increased for Hauser this season and the expectation will be that he is more consistent, steady, and productive especially on the offensive side of the floor. Izzo and his staff may want him to be a consistent outside shooter so that he can stretch the interior of the opposing team’s defense.
Hauser has a high basketball IQ where he has been able to show his on-court intelligence last season. However, near the end of last season his offensive production slowed down and he was not averaging as many minutes on the court as he was earlier in the season. This season Hauser at minimum should average eight or more points a game and grab on average six or more rebounds a game. He could be a major factor for the Spartans in getting them a top-five finish in the Big Ten.
C – SR Marcus Bingham Jr.
Bingham throughout his time at Michigan State has worked on his conditioning and he has added muscle to his frame these past off-season’s. He should start the season as he did in the exhibition game against Ferris State this season. It appears with his experience, shot-blocking ability, and his outside shooting potential, he will get to start over Julius Marble and Mady Sissoko due in part to his height, leadership, and him having more experience.
Him starting over Sissoko and Marble is no disrespect to both players mentioned for the starting center position, However, Bingham has the edge of the other two players to start the season until either of the other two potential starting centers prove to Izzo and his staff that they are the best big man to start down low on the block next to Hauser. He will once again like last season be looked at continue to improve against the growing trend of bigger and more athletic centers in division one basketball.
Bingham has a 7-4 wingspan and is listed as 7 feet tall. He has displayed the ability to hit the open shop from the outside and should once again be a productive and consistent shot blocker this season. Unlike the COVID-19 restricted year last season, he had the off-season to continue to add muscle and work on his conditioning with fewer limitations than last summer. Izzo and his revamped coaching staff look to see a much more improved Bingham this season on the court.
He with his experience within the program has once again the perfect opportunity to see an increase in playing time and to start the majority of the games this season. Along with the increased expectations and hopes that he can increase his offensive production and minutes on the court this off-season, you can see why Izzo and his coaching staff expect to see a much more productive Bingham this season with him playing more minutes on the court this year.