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Michigan State basketball soon to have ’embarrassment of riches’ in post

By Connor Muldowney

Mar 19, 2017; Tulsa, OK, USA; Michigan State Spartans forward Nick Ward (44) reacts during the second half against the Kansas Jayhawks in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at BOK Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 19, 2017; Tulsa, OK, USA; Michigan State Spartans forward Nick Ward (44) reacts during the second half against the Kansas Jayhawks in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at BOK Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sad about the end of the 2016-17 Michigan State basketball season? Don’t be. The 2017-18 campaign will provide an embarrassment of riches in the post.

Picking up a transfer from former Oregon and UNLV big man Ben Carter was huge for Michigan State basketball prior to the 2016-17 season. He provided some extra depth after the departure of Deyonta Davis and would join Gavin Schilling and incoming freshman Nick Ward down low.

Must Read: MSU Recruiting: Top 7 remaining 2018 basketball targets

Schilling had been waiting four years for an increased role such as the one he was about to have during his senior season. He would be the go-to guy down low, as long as he stayed out of foul trouble, and it was only a matter of time before his numbers reaped the benefits.

However, during fall practice, Carter went down with a knee injury and then a short time later, right before Midnight Madness, Schilling suffered the same fate. The season hadn’t even begun, but Spartan fans were already in full panic mode.

Michigan State would enter the season with one true big, a freshman, in Ward. Even worse was the fact that Kenny Goins would be stretched to the post and Matt Van Dyk would play valuable minutes early on. Miles Bridges, too, would have to play out of position.

Surprisingly, the Spartans out-rebounded a number of teams and held their own in 2016-17, but Tom Izzo is about to have a completely different fate in 2017-18.

In fact, the Spartans are set to bring in Jaren Jackson Jr. (a five-star power forward) and Xavier Tillman (a four-star power forward) in the 2017 class and return Gavin Schilling and Nick Ward. On top of that, they’re aiming to add five-star center Brandon McCoy to the 2017 class.

If all goes as planned, the Spartans will have five bigs (potentially six if Carter returns) as opposed to just one in 2016-17. That embarrassment of riches will prove to be a difference-maker in the Spartans’ final record/results.

Related Story: MSU Recruiting: 5 bold predictions for March

Having a plethora of bigs could be the difference between a round of 32 exit and a Final Four run as the national favorite. Watch out next season.

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