Michigan State basketball: Jesse McCulloch likely to redshirt, but Tom Izzo keeps door open

EAST LANSING – Tom Izzo revealed he plans to redshirt Michigan State basketball freshman Jesse McCullouch.

With a caveat or two. And plenty of hype and hope for the future.

“If somebody got hurt or if I don’t like the way someone’s playing,” Izzo said after Monday’s season-opening 81-57 win over Monmouth. “This kid is redshirting because he’s good enough. He’s not redshirting because he’s not good enough.”

Michigan State’s Jesse McCulloch shoots in practice during men’s basketball media day on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

McCullouch currently is in a logjam behind big men Xavier Booker, Szymon Zapala, Jaxon Kohler and Carson Cooper in the Spartans’ frontcourt. The 6-foot-10, 240-pound forward did not play in the opener after loggings five scoreless minutes in each of MSU’s two October exhibition games against Division II opponents.

Against Northern Michigan, McCulloch had a rebound, an assist and a blocked shot. Against Ferris State, he missed his only free throw and picked up two fouls but grabbed three rebounds with a block.

“You redshirt people for two reasons. And he is not permanently redshirted,” Izzo said. “Football’s got this rule, they can play in four games, they can play in the bowl game and still be eligible. In basketball, you play two exhibition games and you’re dead. I think we’ve done a bad job as an association figuring that out to a certain extent, so we have to do that right now.”

McCulloch averaged 22.4 points, 14.1 rebounds, 4.3 blocks and 2.0 assists per game as a senior last winter for Lutheran East High in Cleveland. He was rated a three-star prospect and the No. 171 player nationally, according to 247Sports.com’s composite rankings of the 2024 class.

LAST GAME: Jaden Akins ties career high as Michigan State basketball rolls Monmouth, 81-57, in opener

“It’s really what the team needs,” McCulloch said about a potential redshirt last month at MSU media day. “Whatever coach says, I’m ready for it. If…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/michigan-state-basketball-jesse-mcculloch-193255821.html

Author : Detroit Free Press

Publish date : 2024-11-05 19:32:00

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