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Michigan State Basketball: Takeaways from loss to Duke in Champions Classic

By Tristan Freeman

Nov 14, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Tyson Walker (2) reacts after being hit in the head against the Duke Blue Devils during the second half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 14, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Tyson Walker (2) reacts after being hit in the head against the Duke Blue Devils during the second half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports /
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Michigan State’s Xavier Booker
Michigan State’s Xavier Booker /

3. Xavier Booker likely won’t have a big impact this season

One of the reasons why I and many others had Michigan State as a top-5 caliber team (besides Coach Izzo himself) was the incoming freshmen class, led by Xavier Booker. He’s a 6’10 big man and five-star prospect, ranked in the top 10 of the 2023 cycle. There was some talk that he could’ve been a “one and done” to the NBA Draft since he had the measurables and physical tools that the pro scouts love.

Unfortunately, that hasn’t been working out as expected. In the first two games, Booker has been limited to 22 total minutes played and six points, against mid-major competition. Against Duke, he was limited to just five minutes off the bench, registering nothing other than a missed three-point attempt.

On one hand, it makes sense not to play a freshman player who’s not ready for this kind of game, especially when the other team has an All-American big man like Kyle Filipowski. Yet Carson Cooper, a former three-star recruit who looked to be just a regular bench guy, got 21 minutes off the bench and outplayed the starter, Mady Sissoko.

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Since Malik Hall played well at the four-spot, there’s a chance that Booker just wasn’t needed. But for Michigan State Basketball to have any chance of making a deep run in March, they’re going to need something from the former five-star recruit. But will Coach Izzo ever trust him enough to give Booker more minutes?

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