NCAA Basketball: Ranking of top 25 team frontcourts for 2023-24 season

18. Michigan State Spartans

The Spartans brought back just about everyone but the one main rotation piece that’s gone is starting forward Joey Hauser. He not only averaged 14.4 ppg and 7.0 rpg but Hauser also played a big role in the team’s overall elite three-point shooting, making 46% of his shots beyond the arc.

The good news is that Michigan State arguably has even more depth inside this time around. Starting center and interior presence Mady Sissoko is back, along with backups, Carson Cooper and Jaxon Kohler. Malik Hall, the 6’7 versatile combo forward who was the 6th Man last season, very well could start in place of Hauser, assuming he’s fully healthy.

The key to the Spartans that could actually determine their overall title aspirations are the two newcomers. Xavier Booker is a consensus five-star and top-10 freshman newcomer in the 2023 class and has a ton of offensive potential. And Coen Carr is a four-star forward who has a ton of defensive versatility and overall athleticism.

Those two should figure into the rotation and could even eat minutes into the starters. Replacing Hauser will be a tough ask, but this group offers different skillsets that should make Michigan State very tough to deal with inside.