Tag: msu basketball

Omaha basketball transfer, MSU target Frankie Fidler delays commitment announcement

Frankie Fidler has delayed his commitment announcement that was expected on Monday morning:

Fans were expecting a decision from Omaha wing transfer Frankie Fidler on a local Omaha radio station Monday morning, but that decision has since been delayed.

Fidler is coming off of an official visit to Michigan State, where some are saying went very well, giving the wing a lot to think about.

The decision for Fidler is down to Creighton, Nebraska, Wisconsin and Michigan State, while a return to Omaha is not off of the table.

There is no timetable for a decision, but is expected to make a commitment this week.

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A new transfer portal prospect for MSU basketball to monitor

There’s a new center in the transfer portal that MSU has to take a look at:

The world of the NCAA transfer portal is ever changing day by day. With guys coming off of the board, and new guys entering, the options are fluid. One guy who just entered the portal is a guy who Michigan State should heavily consider taking a long look at.

Tennessee center Tobe Awaka made the decision to enter the portal after two years with the Vols. While he was not in the portal when the first edition of 10 players Michigan State basketball should pursue in the transfer portal was created, he would be on that list today.

Awaka is a 6-foot-8, 250 pound center from the Bronx, New York. Yes, he is slightly lacking in the height department, but that shouldn’t scare Spartan fans, he plays like a grown man.

Following MSU’s scrimmage with Tennessee this past October, Tom Izzo had this to see about the Tennessee big man:

I think he (Rick Barnes) has interchangeable parts; he can bring those bigs in; Awaka, is a man, he’s just a man child, he gives them a different look than Aidoo.

Aside from Izzo already knowing Awaka, and liking his game, in limited minutes, the center showed what he is capable of.

Awaka averaged 5.1 points per game and 4.6 rebounds per game in just over 13 minutes of action. He shot 59% from the field to go along with 74% from the line.

His 124 offensive rating on KenPom is well above the average of 100, and his 92 defensive rating (the lower the better) also shows his prowess on the defensive end. He also would have ranked 4th nationally in offensive rebounding percentage at 18%, but he did not play enough minutes to qualify.

There is some projection that would have to be done here, as doubling your minutes doesn’t always mean doubling your numbers, but all things considered, Awaka is the type of center Izzo loves to have and MSU needs.

He will have two years of eligibility remaining, wherever he chooses to go.

MSU listed just outside ESPN’s ‘Way-Too-Early’ Top 25 rankings for 2024-25 season

MSU basketball will start the offseason just outside the top 25 in the eyes of ESPN’s Jeff Borzello

Michigan State basketball will start the offseason just outside the top 25 in the eyes of ESPN’s Jeff Borzello.

Borzello — like so many of his college basketball writing peers — released his way-too-early rankings for next season on Tuesday, which had the Spartans just outside the top 25. Borzello put Michigan State on his “next in line” list suggesting the Spartans are just outside the top 25.

Borzello had _ teams from the Big Ten in his rankings, including Purdue (No. 6), UCLA (No. 19), Maryland (No. 20), Rutgers (No. 21) and Wisconsin (No. 24). Ohio State was also included in the “next in line” list.

Check out the complete rankings from Borzello by clicking on the post below:

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MSU listed in Field of 68’s ‘Way Way Too Early Top 25’ rankings for 2024-25 season

Will Michigan State start the 2024-25 season in the preseason rankings?

Will Michigan State start the 2024-25 season in the preseason rankings? The Field of 68 team currently thinks that’ll be the case.

It’s the time of the year where everyone will be releasing their super early rankings for next year, and that includes The Field of 68 — who have the Spartans ranked. The Field of 68 has listed Michigan State as their No. 23 team entering the offseason.

Other Big Ten teams included in The Field of 68’s “way way too early top 25 rankings” are Purdue (No. 9), Maryland (No. 17), Rutgers (No. 18) and UCLA (No. 22).

Check out the complete rankings are below:

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REPORT, Saddi Washington to interview for Michigan State basketball assistant job

A former Michigan assistant is reportedly interviewing for MSU’s vacancy

Michigan State basketball head coach Tom Izzo is tasked with replacing Mark Montgomery on his bench after the MSU assistant took the head coaching position at Detroit Mercy.

Spartans Wire compiled a list of potential candidates for the position, and among that list was former Michigan assistant Saddi Washington. It now looks like Washington will be a candidate getting a look from Izzo.

Rumors circling social media have surfaced that Washington will be conducting an interview MSU tomorrow. It is unclear at this time if it is a formal in person interview or a zoom call.

Washington would be a solid replacement and would get the endorsement of two coaches Izzo respects a ton in John Beilein and Greg Kampe.

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MSU basketball reportedly ‘contacts’ George Mason transfer G Keyshawn Hall

MSU basketball has reportedly expressed interest in a big-time scoring guard from the Atlantic 10 Conference

Michigan State basketball has reportedly expressed interest in a big-time scoring guard from the Atlantic 10 Conference.

CBB Content is reporting that Michigan State basketball has “contacted” George Mason transfer guard Keyshawn Hall. He is a 6-foot-7 guard from Cleveland, Ohio who led the Patriots in scoring this past season.

Hall averaged 16.6 points and 8.1 rebounds per game this past season for George Mason. He also shot 35.7 percent from three-point range this past season.

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Michigan State basketball makes top four, to get visit from Omaha transfer

An elite transfer will be taking an official visit to Michigan State:

Michigan State is in the thick of things for another elite wing transfer on the market. The Spartans are set to host Omaha wing transfer Frankie Fidler on a official visit, after making the small forward’s top four.

This past season at Omaha, Fidler averaged 20.1 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. MSU was featured inside of the 6-foot-7 wing’s top four alongside Creighton, Nebraska and Wisconsin.

The Spartans continue their quest to add a transfer wing to the 2023-24 roster next season.

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Mady Sissoko says goodbye to Spartan Nation amid transfer

Mady Sissoko says goodbye to Spartan Nation:

Michigan State basketball center Mady Sissoko has made the decision to transfer away from the program, and use his fifth year of eligibility with a different school. This comes after four years with MSU.

Sissoko took to Instagram to say goodbye to Spartan Nation and thank the many members of the program that helped him through his career in East Lansing:

https://www.instagram.com/p/C5WNaC6O4Wb/?hl=en

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Michigan State basketball C Mady Sissoko enters NCAA transfer portal

Mady Sissoko has entered the transfer portal

The first member of Michigan State’s basketball roster to announce that they are leaving the program is center Mady Sissoko. The grad student will use his addition COVID fifth year of eligibility at a different university.

The decision doesn’t come as a major surprise, as it has been speculated that Tom Izzo was searching the portal for a center, and Sissoko has largely underperformed the past two seasons.

Sissoko was a good Spartan, though, and did a ton of good off the court. Spartan fans will surely be rooting for the big man wherever his next stop ends up being.

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Cory Linsner on Twitter @Cory_Linsner.

REPORT: MSU target, 5-star SF Bryson Tucker takes official visit to Indiana

A big-time prospect the Spartans are targeting has reportedly found some new interest in a Big Ten rival

A big-time prospect the Spartans are targeting has reportedly found some new interest in a Big Ten rival.

Five-star small forward Bryson Tucker reportedly took an official visit to Indiana on Tuesday. Jeff Rabjohns of 247Sports reportedly the notable recruiting news.

Tucker is ranked as the No. 20 overall prospect in 247Sports’ composite rankings for the 2024 class. He’s also listed as the No. 7 small forward and No. 1 player from Virginia.

Michigan State has long been considered one of the favorites to land Tucker’s commitment, with Kansas also in the mix. However, with Indiana entering the picture, things could be shifting away from the Spartans for Tucker.

Click on the tweet below to read more from Rabjohns on Tucker’s visit to Indiana:

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