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NCAA Basketball: Who should be the No. 1 team to start the 2023-24 season?

By Tristan Freeman

Purdue Boilermakers center Zach Edey (15) celebrates as he is announced the player of the tournament after winning the Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament Championship game against the Penn State Nittany Lions, Sunday, March 12, 2023, at United Center in Chicago. Purdue won 67-65.Pupsu031223 Am22423
Purdue Boilermakers center Zach Edey (15) celebrates as he is announced the player of the tournament after winning the Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament Championship game against the Penn State Nittany Lions, Sunday, March 12, 2023, at United Center in Chicago. Purdue won 67-65.Pupsu031223 Am22423 /
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NCAA Basketball
Michigan State Spartans’ A.J. Hoggard (11) Mady Sissoko (22), Tyson Walker (2) and forward Malik Hall NCAA BasketballMsumarq 031923 Kd6623 MSU huddle /

Michigan State Spartans

In what was supposed to be a “down year” for a Tom Izzo-led squad, Michigan State still managed to get another Sweet 16 appearance, beating the best Big East team (Marquette) in the process. The hype was always set to go towards the 2023-24 campaign, and everything went right in the process.

The Spartans got back all of the key pieces outside of forward Joey Hauser. The guard trio of Tyson Walker, Jaden Akins, and AJ Hoggard are all back, along with center Mady Sissoko and forward Malik Hall, who is still recovering from an injury. But the reason why this team is expected to become a national contender is because of the elite incoming recruiting class.

Ranked in the top-5 overall, Michigan State has four top-100 prospects. The key name to watch is Xavier Booker, a five-star big man with elite offensive potential. That’s arguably the biggest weakness on the roster without Hauser around. Forward Coen Carr and ball-handler Jeremy Fears also should be key contributors as well.

This is going to be one of the better rosters that Coach Izzo has had in the past decade. And he’s taken worse teams deep in the NCAA Tournament before. Maybe the collective talent in this projected rotation isn’t as good as the others but the coaching on the sidelines should be able to make up for it.

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