CBB Insider: Michigan State might not 'be in the same conversation' in '25-'26

Michigan State is coming off of their best season of the decade, going 30-7 overall, winning the regular season title in the Big Ten, and making the Elite Eight in 2025. However, with what they lost from last year’s roster, Jon Rothstein is expecting the Spartans to take a step back in ’25-’26.

Rothstein previewed next season in the Big Ten on ‘Inside College Basketball Now’ on Monday. That included some of his concerns about Michigan State with him viewing them to some extent below his top teams in the conference as of today.

“You’re looking at Michigan State right now as a team that does not seem, at least on paper entering the season, to be in the same conversation as a Purdue or a Michigan,” said Rothstein.

That’s in large part with the roster turnover that Spartans saw this offseason. The program lost seven players from their lineup from a season ago with a trio being out of eligibility, a trio deciding to leave in the transfer portal, and one being a first-round pick in the NBA Draft.

Michigan State will now try to make up for that with four key returners, two of which who were starters last season, plus a pair of incoming, Top-55 freshman and three coming in from the NCAA Transfer Portal. However, they’re already down to just two transfers with Kaleb Glenn (FAU, Louisville), their top-rated portal addition, already out for the season after tearing his patellar tendon last month. That means, of the eight players mentioned here, the Spartans will have only one, Trey Fort III (Samford), who has averaged significant numbers in their career as a double-figure scorer. That’s a lot on some of those players to make this season a good follow-up for them, especially of those four returning players in East Lansing.

“One big picture theme, and you know Michigan State is always going to be consistent under Tom Izzo. The Spartans do not return a double-figure scorer from last year’s team that went all the way to the Elite Eight and lost to Auburn in the Regional Finals. Jaden Akins is gone, Jase Richardson is gone, Tre Holloman has transferred to NC State,” said Rothstein. “What you’re looking at if you’re Tom Izzo is a nucleus of returning players with great promise – Jeremy Fears in the backcourt, Jaxson Kohler up front who I think could go from ancillary piece to All-Big Ten player in ’25-’26, and then you’re also going to look at Coen Carr and Carson Cooper. Those four guys back represent the foundation for Michigan State this season.”

This isn’t to count out Michigan State as few programs and coaches have been as consistent as there’s has been. However, after having their best season of the 2020s, Rothstein sees some signs that the Spartans could down a bit from 2025 to 2026.