SpartanMag LIVE! Discussing the latest upward trends for Michigan State basketball ahead of the Michigan game
East Lansing, Mich. – In this week’s edition of SpartanMag LIVE!, SpartanMag publisher Jim Comparoni goes in-depth on the latest trends surrounding Michigan State basketball with SpartanMag Associate Editor Paul Konyndyk.
Comparoni also fields mailbag questions from SpartanMag subscribers including topics such as:
* Whether or not walk-ons get NIL money at Michigan State.
* Jonathan Smith’s first recruiting class and how it landed in the national rankings.
* AJ Hoggard’s up-and-down season (well, his downs aren’t that bad), but can he harness the ups?
“AJ plays better when we are desperate,” said Spartan basketball coach Tom Izzo.
* On the emergence of Malik Hall. Did Comparoni expect this? Not quite, but there are reasons it shouldn’t surprise anyone. And it’s going to be intriguing to see if Hall can sustain it as he becomes a red letter player on opposing scouting reports.
Hall has dealt with this a little bit already, with the way Minnesota double-teamed him in the post, and the way Penn State tried to deny entry passes to him. But Hall’s emerging mismatch skills as a face-up four are enabling him to do damage off the bounce.
* Is Jonathan Smith placing greater emphasis on walk-ons than previous coaches?
* Are there certain characteristics that Jonathan Smith and his staff are prioritizing more so than past coaches?
* In basketball, what is Michigan State’s idea player rotation at the four and the five?
* How big of a basketball recruiting class will Michigan State sign in 2025?
* Who are the favorites to become the first football commitments of the 2025 class.
* Will Michigan’s misdeeds result in vacated wins?
* In basketball, are Michigan State’s chances of making it beyond the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament improving?
Those questions and more are discussed during this week’s SpartanMag LIVE!
