Michigan State basketball listed in CBS Sports’ early ‘Top 25 And 1’ for 2024-25

Michigan State basketball was listed as the first team outside of the CBS Sports way-too-early Top 25 rankings for 2024-25.

CBS Sports released its updated early preseason ‘Top 25 and 1’ rankings for next season on Saturday. College basketball analyst Gary Parrish posted the rankings that reflected the recent recruiting and portal updates. There weren’t a ton of surprises on the rankings. Most of the teams have been holding in the same spots as they have been. Plus it’s the teams you’d pretty much expect to see there with the exception of one team of course that may surprise you: Michigan State basketball.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL RANKINGS: The 2024-25 @CBSSports preseason Top 25 And 1 has been updated to reflect recent developments.

Version 22.0

1. Kansas
2. Houston
3. North Carolina
4. UConn
5. Iowa State
6. Baylor
7. Gonzaga
8. Duke
9. Alabama
10. Auburnhttps://t.co/jCeLXIZrp5

— Gary Parrish (@GaryParrishCBS) May 11, 2024

The Spartans were listed at No. 26 on the official preseason ‘Top 25 and 1’ rankings. You can check out the full list above.

Coming off a 20-15 record last season and another disappointing second-round exit, Spartans head coach Tom Izzo vowed that big changes were coming. While all of the changes we as fans had hoped for may not have come to fruition yet, there has been a fair amount of roster turnover.

The Spartans will be parting ways with senior point guard AJ Hoggard and senior center Mady Sissoko who hit the transfer portal after the season ended. It was clear that Sissoko was not going to be the answer at center and it looked like Izzo and AJ mutually agreed to part ways. After that, key pieces Malik Hall and Tyson Walker graduated. Also, bench guards Davis Smith and Steven Izzo graduated.

With those six players graduating or transferring, a few open spots are available heading into the season. Michigan State basketball finally went out and landed its first transfer portal target since Tyson Walker in Omaha small forward Frankie Fidler. Outside of Fidler, MSU is welcoming in the 21st-ranked recruiting class according to 247 Sports. The freshman class consists of combo guard Jase Richardson, shooting guard Kur Tang, and big man Jesse McCulloch.

Projecting the lineup for next season, barring NBA draft surprises or last-minute portal additions, here is where we stand:

PG: Jeremy Fears, Tre Holloman, Jase Richardson
SG: Jaden Akins, Kur Teng, Nick Sanders
SF: Frankie Fidler, Gehrig Normand
PF: Xavier Booker, Coen Carr, Jesse McCulloch
C: Jaxon Kholer, Carson Cooper

According to CBS, that is the roster that will rank 26th to start the season. I know MSU fans have been clamoring for another center to join the mix. If the Spartans still get one is anyone’s guess, but going into the season there’s still a lot of talent on this roster.

Xavier Booker looked to be really turning a corner down the stretch last season. The losses of Hoggard and Sissoko may also free some other players up to take bigger roles on the team. What really hinges most of the potential success is if Jeremy Fears comes back healthy and as hungry as he previously was. Also, and perhaps the biggest key: moving Jaden Akins back to a two-guard role and allowing him to become the guy.

Only time will tell but it is great to see national outlets believing in the Spartans.

As always, Go Green. Also, Happy Mother’s Day to all the Spartan moms out there.