Coach Izzo says he's ticked off Michigan State is unranked

Updated Oct. 20, 2021 5:01 p.m. ET

Associated Press

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan State is unranked in the

“It does tick me off," Tom Izzo said Wednesday.

Izzo is not alone.

“I'm mad, too," senior guard Gabe Brown said.

Expectations are relatively low for the Spartans, unranked before a season for the first time since the 2011-12 season. Last season, they barely extended their

“If you ask who the star player is, I'm not sure I could answer you," Izzo said. “It has not been that way for many years."

Izzo also is leading a squad that had a lot of turnover.

Aaron Henry, who led last year's team in scoring, skipped his senior season to enter the NBA draft and Joshua Langford's five-year career ended. Rocket Watts, Foster Loyer, Thomas Kithier and Jack Hoiberg transferred.

Michigan State did receive the most votes among unranked teams and Izzo has a lot of solid players to work with in his 27th season.

Joey Hauser, who averaged 9.7 points per game last season, and Brown are two of seven returning players with some experience. Former Northeastern standout guard Tyson Walker along with a highly touted recruiting class led by Max Christie provide the program with an influx of talent.

“We don’t have a go-to guy, but everybody brings something to the table,” Brown said.

Izzo's last team that started a season outside the poll went on to earn a share of the Big Ten title and finished ranked No. 5 in the country.

“I'm not saying that’s going to happen," he said. “But I understand where we are and where we deserve to be and where we can be."

FRESH FACES

Christie, a top-20 recruit, and top-60 players Jaden Akins and Max Christie are freshman guards expected to play key roles.

“Three guys that have been as good or better than the billing and that does not happen," Izzo said.

NOT A FAN

Izzo does not like how common

ON THE RUN

The Spartans are expecting to speed up the pace much more on offense with Walker and A.J. Hoggard pushing the ball up the court quickly.

“We have a lot of athletes who can get out and run," Atkins said.

STAFF SHAKEUP

left his job as Michigan State assistant to be associate head coach at Indiana, where he played two decades ago, and that led to a series of changes.

Former Tulsa and College of Charleston coach Doug Wojcik was promoted to replace Fife. Ex-Northern Illinois coach and former Spartan guard Mark Montgomery returned for a second stint on Izzo's staff. Austin Thornton was hired to be the team’s video coordinator and Matt McQuaid to be its director of basketball operations, bringing two of Izzo's players back to the program.

Mike Garland is making a transition from being an assistant coach to Izzo's special assistant, focusing on the mental health of current plyers and keeping connections with former players.

“One of the things we decided to do was to get a little younger," Izzo said. “Draymond (Green) brought that to my attention."

TOUGH SLEDDING

The Spartans tip off the season Nov. 9 against No. 3 Kansas in New York City. They could also face No. 22 Auburn or No. 24 Connecticut along with No. 8 Baylor during a Thanksgiving week tournament in the Bahamas.

“We've got a brutal schedule," Izzo said. “We might get our brains beat in early."

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