Michigan State basketball roster 2024-25: Starting lineup prediction, rotation preview for Tom Izzo's Spartans

The Spartans are replacing their top three scorers from a team finished 20-15

By David Cobb Sep 9, 2024 at 11:08 am ET• 4 min read

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo vowed after Spartans' loss to North Carolina in the second round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament that he will get MSU back to a deeper run in the NCAA Tournament or that, "I'm going to die trying." Izzo's first crack at making good on that vow will come with a 2024-25 roster that is replacing some offensive firepower.

The Spartans' top three scorers are gone from a 20-15 team that struggled to reach the lofty visions associated with a No. 4 preseason ranking. But instead of letting the frustration of unmet expectations drive him to the transfer portal, Izzo mostly opted to double down on internal development.

Nebraska-Omaha forward Frankie Fidler transferred in to use his final season of eligibility with the Spartans, and former Longwood center Szymon Zapala will also compete for minutes. However, most of the faces in the team's 2024-25 rotation should be familiar to Michigan State fans. A three-man freshman class has also arrived to help lay the foundation for future season.

Izzo, who will turn 70 this season, is entering his 30th year on the job and has made a remarkable 26 straight NCAA Tournament appearances. He's won a national title, reached eight Final Fours and claimed 10 Big Ten regular season titles. But despite all the accomplishments in his storied career, he's left no doubt that he's hungry for more.