Spartans! Prepare for glory!

No more “secret” scrimmages? Guess we’ll have to settle for the real thing on Monday. Until then, read about Michigan State’s title chances, another setback for West Virginia, and some hot-seat scuttlebutt.

Let's get to the news.

1. Michigan State questions asked, and answered

For the first time since 2020, Michigan State will enter a college hoops season ranked in the Top 10 of the AP poll. That was common from 2000 to 2020 (13 times), yet the last two seasons they began the season unranked.

This season, Michigan State is among the sport’s most experienced, and deepest teams. Pair those with a stellar freshman class and a coach who’s determined to win another ring, and it’s the ideal formula for a March run.

So. What’s the catch?

From The Almanac:

Actually Tom, I don’t know if you missed it, but most of the All-America teams are comprised of bigs. One could argue the sport’s six best players are big men.

Hm. Maybe we should bring in another POV for this. Let’s ask one-time Daily writer, Field of 68 host, Sleepers Media chatterbox and Big Ten expert Greg Waddell for his take on the frontcourt, State’s upside, and much more.

Mike Miller: Are we really gonna see Michigan State as a Final Four contender without an intimidating frontcourt? Mady Sissoko is who he is, Xavier Booker doesn't seem ready and Jaxson Kohler isn't even playing right now (but if it comes to relying on Jaxson Kohler, that's a different convo). What kind of world is this?

Greg: The label of “Final Four contender” scares me a bit in general so early in the season, mostly because the tournament is fluky and as we have seen with the entire AP Top 5 … this year could be very wide open. But I do think Michigan State can absolutely compete for the Big Ten title and play at a top 10-ish level nationally without an intimidating frontcourt. Tyson Walker/AJ Hoggard/Jaden Akins are that good, and even if it’s just a 20 minutes off the bench role, I’d argue there’s no more intimidating sixth man in the country than Coen Carr.

With that said, the main reason to believe in a leap from Michigan State this season is what they added, not what they return. This core of great guard play + Sissoko and Malik Hall have lost 13 games in three consecutive seasons. To a certain extent, all those guys are who they are.

It’s the emergence of Carr, Carson Cooper and Booker that will define this team’s ceiling. Carr and Booker were +31 combined in 24 total minutes against Tennessee. Sissoko and Hall were -32 in 47 minutes. The Spartans won’t reach their ceiling without a minutes split closer to 50/50 from those two groups later in the season.

Mike: I'm all for more Carr, as should just about everyone else in the country. He's only a walking highlight reel — if we're ever gonna see a free-throw line dunk in a game, it's gonna come from Carr — but brings infectious energy and athleticism to a team that really needs it. Is there a Michigan State comp for him? Or do we have go all of basketball given his (mostly) unique gifts?

Greg: There is! I go back to Branden Dawson — although Carr has him beat when it comes to hops specifically (but he probably has everyone not named Zion Williamson beat in the last 10 years). Dawson had an easier path to starter minutes as a freshman and was a physically dominant, super-strong wing who feasted in transition and catching lobs in the halfcourt. Hoggard and Carr are a perfect pairing and there will be no shortage of SportsCenter Top 10 moments this season between them.

Mike: A perfect pairing? Or the best pairing available this season? Talk me into why AJ Hoggard could be an All-Big Ten point guard.

Greg: <takes deep breath>
<puts AJ Hoggard-defender hat on>

It’s all about consistency with AJ. Last season he added a respectable jump shot, and with how much he can get to the free-throw line that was critical. The jumper looks fully realized now (5-5 from FT plus the clutch three late vs. Tennessee), but more importantly — AJ has had one of the best assist rates in the country despite never playing with a lob threat.

Spartan fans will miss Joey Hauser for tons of reasons, but the frontcourt of Hauser + Sissoko/Kohler finished as many alley oop lobs last season as you and I did.

Sissoko’s hands are still shaky to say the least … but having aerial threats like Cooper, Carr and Booker this year makes life even easier than ever on Hoggard. Izzo has been adamant this team will run in transition more than the last two, and the early returns are that he’s serious. Hoggard should reach his peak in his final season.

Mike: Ok, ok. I won’t pick on AJ anymore. Probably.

Talk to me about the other exhibition vs Tennessee. Coaches always try shit in these games they normally wouldn’t, so everything is grain-of-salt territory. What are you thinking about Sparty after Sunday?

Greg: I think we confirmed a few things we expected about the Spartans already, namely:

• This may be the deepest team in the country

• This team has five good guards who will all play and will constantly keep each other fresh

• This team has serious concerns at center

• Coen Carr is a walking poster

We also learned a few things we weren’t sure on, like:

• Xavier Booker primarily played the 5 and not the 4

• Full-court pressure may be a regular thing

• When needing a late game defensive stop, Michigan State put all guards on the floor and came up with a critical steal. Small ball lineups…yes please!

Add it all up, and they belong right about where they were picked preseason. Even if it feels a bit gross to say that out loud after losing at home to a Tennessee team without its two best guards.

Mike: Last question: Who takes the last shot for this team? Always a wonder when you have multiple options.

Greg: The answer is likely Walker. We have a running joke on our show that if you ask Walker, Akins and Hoggard which one of them is taking the final shot, two of them are answering Tyson Walker and AJ Hoggard is answering AJ Hoggard.

The problem is we really aren’t sure if we’re joking.

But hey, Hoggard is 1-for-1 on clutch shots this year, so we’ll see where it goes from here!

-Mike Miller

2. Another West Virginia setback

West Virginia’s wait for regarding RaeQuan Battle’s waiver appeal got a little bit more urgent. The school announced Monday that transfer Kerr Kriisa will miss the first nine game of the season for receiving “impermissible benefits” while at Arizona.

The full release:

Kriisa was the starting point guard for a team who was a one-seed two seasons ago, and a two-seed last season. He came to West Virginia looking for more of an offensive role. But his 30-foot threes and flashy passes will have to wait.

Kriisa’s Mountaineers debut will be Dec. 16 against UMass. And that won’t be a moment too soon.

With Kriisa suspended (and Battle out), expect bigger roles from Seth Wilson, Kobe Johnson and Jeremiah Bembry. The only issue? None of those three have done much at the college level. It’s just the latest obstacle for the program since June.

It’s quite the laundry list for interim coach Josh Eilert. We’ll see how his team fares.

3. UCLA wins exhibition, roster remains uncertain

The Bruins may be the biggest unknown in college basketball. They could finish top-three in the Pac-12 and earn a protected seed in the Big Dance — or miss the tourney entirely.

They’re still waiting on two of their international recruits, 7-foot-2 phenom Aday Mara and forward Berke Buyuktuncel, to be cleared by the NCAA. Big man Adem Bona hasn’t played in any of the exhibitions or scrimmages due to a healing shoulder.

Not that any of that mattered on Tuesday night during a 97-56 exhibition win against Cal State Dominquez Hills.

Freshman guard Sebastian Mack dropped 23 points and seven dimes, while transfer Lazar Stefanovic added 19 points on 6-7 shooting. He may end up developing into the Bruins go-to scorer.

It’s encouraging to see Mack put together a notable performance. He’s a Top 75 recruit who’ll have to earn minutes, but he’s on his way to making a name for himself in UCLA’s uncertain backcourt.

UCLA opens its season on Monday night against Saint Francis in Pauley Pavilion.

4. The Wilkins tradition continues in Athens

Mike White is stocking talent at Georgia.

One week ago, he brought in Asa Newell, a Top-15 recruit in the 2024 class. White regularly recruited notable recruits to Florida, so it’s unsurprising to see a similar trend at Georgia.

His latest addition comes in the 2025 class with Jacob Wilkins, the son of former Georgia star and NBA legend, Dominique Wilkins. Wilkins chose Georgia over Virginia — where his younger brother, Isaiah is on Tony Bennett’s staff.

Wilkins possesses a lengthy wing frame at 6-foot-8 and shares the athleticism gene Dominique did in his youth, too.

But Jacob is looking to make a name for himself in Athens, outside of being Dominique’s kid. "I trust everyone there. I come in there with a last name but I know I'll make my own name going there. Not just being the son of Dominique Wilkins but Jacob Wilkins," Jacob said on Tuesday.

In 2024 recruiting news:

• Colorado added guard Felix Kossaras.

• Dillon Battie committed to Temple.

• Merrimack grabbed guard Brandan Johnson.

• Kansas City picked up guard Gob Gob.

• Central Arkansas added big man Arden Begaj.

5. Could Cal’s days at Kentucky be numbered?

The “Field of 68 After Dark” (subscribe!) returned this week and it didn’t waste time to stoke some conversation.

Jeff Goodman spoke (argued?) with Fox Sports Radio’s Doug Gottlieb and ESPN’s Jeff Borzello about which coaches might be feeling the heat this season.

Some highlights:

• Will Michigan make a move from Juwan Howard with another sub-par season? Borzello says no. “He made a Sweet 16 and an Elite Eight, two years ago and three years ago. Jumping to the NBA is more realistic than getting fired. We’ve run into this with a lot of former college stars coming back to coach, with Ewing and Chris Mullin, it’s really hard to fire them. And I don’t think Juwan has done nearly bad enough to get fired even if they go 18-16 or 16-18 and miss the tournament.”

• Kenny Payne isn’t looking nearly as secure. “I don’t see a year three coming for Payne,” Goodman said. “Again, the fanbase isn’t going to be happy with 12 wins. Even though it goes from four to 12 wins, that might be a stretch.”

• What about the guy who employed Payne for many years in Lexington? Could Kentucky actually cut bait on John Calipari? “I think they’d have to have an NIT-like collapse or barely sneak into the NCAA Tournament.” Gottlieb said. “It’s so much money.”

Be sure to catch After Dark this week at 9 pm ET on YouTube or on Twitter/X.

Magic touch

Rodney Terry and Jerome Tang both thrived in their first seasons in the Big 12, and both came within a game of a Final Four. So how do you follow up that kind of season? And who will have the better year? The DTF guys debate.

Subscribe to The Field of 68 on YouTube here and subscribe here to the DTF podcast

Links as you debate the College Football Playoff rankings.

• Bryant coach Jared Grasso pleaded not guilty in a hit-and-run case. He remains on suspended from the school.

• Cornell guard Chris Manon plans to enter the transfer portal after this season as a grad transfer.

• Add Atlantic 10 Commissioner Bernadette McGlade to the list of leaders peeved by the recent NIT changes.

• Hope Zach Edey had a happy Halloween.

Correction: We wrote yesterday that Nebraska’s Rienk Mast was assaulted by Cornhuskers linebacker Nicholas DeLuca. DeLuca attended North Dakota State. We regret the error.