Couch: 3 quick takes on MSU’s Aidan Chiles, Tom Izzo and Adam Nightingale

1. Izzo’s comments Tuesday on his team and program are worth noting

EAST LANSING – Tom Izzo said a couple things that stood out Tuesday during his first press conference of his 30th season as Michigan State’s head men’s basketball coach.

No. 1, nearly right off the bat, was this: “I think we’re a lot tougher team than we were last year.”

When asked to elaborate, Izzo mostly talked about the Spartans being a more sizable group.

“We’re bigger,” he said. “(Transfer) Frankie (Fidler) is a lot bigger at the wing. We’re bigger there. I think definitely at center, both transfer Szymon (Zapala) and Coop (Carson Cooper) have improved a lot and are more physical. And I think at the 4, we’ve got a variety of guys we can go with, but in Book (Xavier Booker) and Jaxon (Kohler), Book’s more physical than he was and Jaxon’s lot more physical than he was, so I think we’re going to be more physical as a team.”

Physicality is one kind of toughness. I’m not sure that’s all Izzo was referring to in his earlier remark. This is a talented, albeit somewhat unproven group. If it’s also a physically and mentally tough group, that’ll go a long way in terms being an imposing team on the court and in the Big Ten standings.

Izzo was speaking ahead of just the second official practice of the season, but between summer practices and the trip to Spain, where MSU played three games, he should have a decent idea about the makeup of this team.

Also, in terms of the positional breakdown he mentioned — don’t read too much into it. I still believe you’ll also see Kohler at center and perhaps Booker closing games at center, and Kohler and Booker at times paired together, along with plenty of Coen Carr at power forward. If Carr plays like he did in the finale in Spain, he’ll have to be on the court. And right now, he’s best as a power forward.

The second comment that stood out was when Izzo was asked big picture about his program. His response:

“It’s just getting back in championship…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/couch-3-quick-takes-msus-203020527.html

Author : Lansing State Journal

Publish date : 2024-09-25 20:30:20

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