Tag: Thomas Kithier

Former Spartan Thomas Kithier reportedly joining Utah Jazz coaching staff

Another former Spartan is reportedly joining the Utah Jazz

Another former Spartan is reportedly joining the Utah Jazz.

The Jazz signed Joey Hauser to a two-way contract last week, and now former Spartans forward Thomas Kithier has reportedly been hired by Utah as assistant video coordinator. Paul Oren reported the news on Kithier.

Kithier played three years for Michigan State before transferring to Valparaiso this past season. He averaged 10.1 points per game this past season for Valpo.

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Former Michigan State basketball C Thomas Kithier suffers career ending injury

Thomas Kithier’s collegiate career appears to be over

Thomas Kithier’s basketball career appears to be over. The Valparaiso fifth-year senior suffered a back injury that will end his collegiate basketball career.

Kithier started his career at Michigan State, playing from 2018-2021 before transferring to Valparaiso for the 2021-22 season.

In his Michigan State career, Kithier averaged 2.3 points and 2.3 rebounds per game over his 86-game career. In one season at Valpo, Kithier averaged 10.1 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game in 22 games.

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.

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How Michigan State basketball transfers fared in the 2021-22 season

Find out how MSU’s outgoing transfers fared in the 2021-22 season

The transfer portal has become the new normal in NCAA athletics. The transfer portal, both incoming and outgoing, is something that fans of collegiate teams has come to expect every offseason. Michigan State is no different, and the school has had its fair share of outgoing transfers, and most notably incoming transfer point guard Tyson Walker.

As the regular season has come to a close for mid-major schools, and just a few days left for power conference schools, its a perfect time to look at how MSU’s outgoing transfers from a year ago fared in their 2021-22 season.

Take a look at how MSU’s transfers fared during their 2021-22 season:

Former Spartans Foster Loyer and Thomas Kithier stand out in debuts with new teams

Former Spartans Foster Loyer and Thomas Kithier stand out in debuts with new teams

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At the end of the day, it was the right time for Foster Loyer and Thomas Kithier to leave Michigan State. Now, both players are able to play a more sizeable role for their new teams. Kithier is at Valparaiso and Loyer is now at Davidson and both players thrived in their debut on Tuesday night for their respective teams.

Loyer scored 27 points and shot 6-for-6 on this threes in a victory for Davidson over Delaware.

Kithier led Valparaiso in scoring with 16 points to go along with 5 rebounds, 2 assists, a steal and a block.

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Former Michigan State basketball forward Thomas Kithier chooses Valparaiso

Thomas Kithier was the third former Spartan to make the decision to transfer. He announced tonight he will be heading to Valparaiso.

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Thomas Kithier joined Rocket Watts and Jack Hoiberg in making the decision to transfer from the Michigan State program this offseason.

Kithier had been a member of the basketball program for three years now and will also be graduating from the university, making himself a graduate transfer.

Kithier announced his transfer destination this evening via his Twitter page.

Kithier will be heading to Valparaiso of the Missouri Valley Conference. Valpo will give Kithier a fresh start to show off the player he can be.

Michigan State fans all over will be cheering on the success of this former Spartan.

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Tom Izzo releases statement on Thomas Kithier entering NCAA Transfer Portal

Tom Izzo put out a statement on Tuesday explaining Kithier’s decision to transfer.

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On Tuesday, three-year Michigan State basketball player Thomas Kithier announced that he will be the third Spartan to enter the NCAA transfer portal. Kithier was a solid, if not flashy, player for Tom Izzo and the Spartans these last few years. Tom Izzo acknowledged as much in a statement he released on the transfer on Tuesday evening.

While fans might have bemoaned his inclusion in the starting lineup at times, Kithier always did what was asked of him and you could always see that he worked hard in the minutes he was given. Kithier, who is about to graduate in just his third year, will now be able to find a nice home where he will be able to play more minutes while pursuing a graduate degree.

Izzo’s statement:

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Thomas Kithier continues to test negative after being pulled from Nebraska game due to illness

Michigan State big man Thomas Kithier has continued to test negative after missing the Nebraska game due to illness symptoms.

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Michigan State Basketball finally snapped a four game losing streak over the weekend with a 10-point win over Nebraska. However, they were missing a key contributor, Thomas Kithier, who was pulled before the game and put into isolation as a precaution after exhibiting some symptoms of illness.

Izzo says that Kithier has continued to test negative for COVID-19 and could resume practicing this week with the team.

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“Somebody said the new model for coaches should be, ‘Think positive, test negative,'” Izzo said Monday. “And that’d be a good way to look at it. … (Kithier) is on everyday testing now, and every day it’s like (folds hands in prayer). I don’t think you realize what that’s like until you went through it. It’s a strain on you.”

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Tom Izzo shuffling starting lineup against Iowa, Marcus Bingham and Foster Loyer to start

Tom Izzo is making some needed changes to his starting lineup to prevent more of a slide, adding Marcus Bingham and Foster Loyer.

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Tom Izzo continues to search for answers to fix his sliding Michigan State basketball team, and will try out a new lineup tonight against Iowa. Marcus Bingham and Foster Loyer will get the nod at center and point guard, respectively, with a new look for the Spartans against Iowa.

This will likely make the lineup:

  • PG Foster Loyer
  • SG Joshua Langford (or Rocket Watts)
  • SF Aaron Henry
  • PF Joey Hauser
  • C Marcus Bingham

The big move here will be the removal of Thomas Kithier from the lineup. Kithier is a solid player who excels at doing ‘the little things’ but his continued role as a starter has frustrated fans as the team continues to slide. He provides little-to-no rim protection and scoring, two things the team has lacked over this tough stretch of games.

Loyer will be the latest player to get a shot at point guard, after Rocket Watts and AJ Hoggard failed to turn the team’s fortunes around.

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WATCH: Michigan State PG AJ Hoggard finds Thomas Kithier with no-look pass

Michigan State Basketball point guard AJ Hoggard found Thomas Kithier with a slick no-look pass last night against Rutgers.

Michigan State Basketball had one of their best wins of the season last night against No. 14 Rutgers at home. The Spartans absolutely bullied a Rutgers team that some feared would handle an MSU team that has had their struggles.

One big reason for the Spartans’ recent success is the emergence of AJ Hoggard at point guard. Before this, Tom Izzo tried out Rocket Watts and Foster Loyer at the starting point position, two players who are really better suited as scorers than facilitators and playmakers.

Hoggard has given the offense a new identity, finding players with some tantalizing dimes on the hardwood. One of those impressive assists came last night against Rutgers, when Hoggard found Thomas Kithier with an impressive no-look pass.

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You can watch it below:

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Foster Loyer, Thomas Kithier get the start in MSU Basketball’s game vs. Eastern Michigan

In Michigan State’s season opener against Eastern Michigan, Foster Loyer and Thomas Kithier are starting for the Spartans.

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Well, I predicted that this may be the case last week. Despite the assumption all summer being that Michigan State Basketball would be starting Rocket Watts at point guard, in their first game against Eastern Michigan they are starting Foster Loyer.

In addition, the Spartans are also starting Thomas Kithier over players like Marcus Bingham, Malik Hall, and Gabe Brown.

While I take some objection to these decisions, they are pretty consistent with an Izzo coaching style as Kithier and Loyer both have a lot of experience, something Izzo covets.

The starting lineup looks like this:

  • G Foster Loyer
  • G Joshua Langford
  • F Aaron Henry
  • F Thomas Kithier
  • F Joey Hauser

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