Big Ten Basketball: Illinois rises, Iowa falls in latest power rankings

Coming into the season, there were three specific keys to the Spartans being good and bouncing back from last year’s somewhat disappointing campaign:

1. Northeastern transfer Tyson Walker having a big impact

2. Breakout campaign from Joey Hauser

3. Max Christie being a go-to scorer in the offense

So far, none of that has happened. Hauser is averaging just 6.1 ppg and 5.7 rpg and shooting just 29% from three-point range and has become the 4th forward in the rotation. Walker is averaging 7.3 ppg and 5.5 apg as the starting point guard but is effectively sharing the position with sophomore AJ Hoggard. And while Christie is fourth on the team with 9.4 ppg, the freshman guard is also shooting just 37% from the field and 31% from deep.

Yet despite all of that, the Spartans are knocking on the door of being ranked in the top 10 overall. That’s because the rest of the rotation has played incredibly well, mainly the frontcourt. Senior Gabe Brown leads the team with 13.3 ppg, while starting center Marcus Bingham is averaging 10.8 ppg and 7.8 rpg in 21 mpg. And Malik Hall is averaging 10 ppg and 5.0 rpg off the bench, including 24 points on a perfect 9/9 from the field in the win over Loyola-Chicago.

Michigan State only has losses to Baylor and Kansas, two of the best teams in the country, as well as a 2-0 start in league play thanks to victories over Penn State and Minnesota. This team has gotten back to the mix at the top of the conference ladder and has a chance to go on a run, thanks to a very favorable upcoming schedule.