Coach Izzo’s Bench: Should He Press ‘Add Player’?
The Michigan State Spartans currently sit one player shy of the NCAA’s 15‐man roster limit. Under the new “5‐for‐5” rule, outgoing seniors Carson Cooper and Jaxon Kohler had hoped for an extra year of eligibility, but the NCAA denied that request. With 14 scholarship athletes locked in, Coach Tom Izzo faces a simple question: fill the final spot or gamble on legal appeals? Whether it’s a walk‐on, a portal transfer, or a redshirt candidate, extra depth never hurts—especially when injuries lurk. After landing center Anton Bonke, MSU’s bigger needs lie at the three and four spots, though a third true guard is unnecessary with recruits like Jasiah Jervis arriving. Even if the portal’s top prospects are already committed elsewhere, one overlooked player could provide cheap bench insurance. The Spartans must decide if a low‐risk add is worth the roster cushion.
In other news, Coach Izzo must now consult his crystal ball and perhaps a Magic 8‐Ball on whether to make his 14th wunderkind Scotty Pippen Jr. reincarnation official. After all, who doesn’t want to watch a mid‐season center with the athletic grace of a refrigerator on roller skates? Rumor has it he’s already mastering the alma mater. Meanwhile, the NCAA’s legal team is dusting off its gavels for the “5‐for‐5” appeal—because nothing says stability like three months of litigation. Stay tuned as the Spartans debate the hottest question since “should we have pizza for dinner?.”
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