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Michigan State Basketball: All-time Tom Izzo era “what if” team

By Connor Muldowney

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 27: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans talks to Chris Allen #3 during the game against the Kansas Jayhawks in the Midwest Regional semifinals of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 27, 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 27: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans talks to Chris Allen #3 during the game against the Kansas Jayhawks in the Midwest Regional semifinals of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 27, 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 16: Marcus Taylor #1 of the Michigan State Spartans dribbles the ball during the NCAA College Basketball Tournament 1st round game against the North Carolina Wolfpack at the MCI Center on March 16, 2002 in Washington, DC. The Wolfpack won 69-58. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 16: Marcus Taylor #1 of the Michigan State Spartans dribbles the ball during the NCAA College Basketball Tournament 1st round game against the North Carolina Wolfpack at the MCI Center on March 16, 2002 in Washington, DC. The Wolfpack won 69-58. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

If you’re like me, you were far too young to truly remember the type of impact Marcus Taylor had on the Spartans in the 2000-01 and 2001-02 seasons. He was a five-star recruit and one of the best high school guards in the nation coming in and he lived up to the hype right away, but he left about a year too early.

Taylor had a chance to be something special at Michigan State, averaging 7.4 points as a freshman to go along with 3.6 assists and he shot just 40 percent from the field.

As a sophomore, he truly broke out for 16.8 points and 5.3 assists per game and he improved his shooting slightly, making just over 40 percent from the floor and 36 percent from 3-point range — up nine percent from deep as a freshman.

Many believed that he could have used another year in Tom Izzo’s system as the point guard and if he returned, he would have led a team with Chris Hill, Kelvin Torbert, Paul Davis, Maurice Ager, Alan Anderson, Aloysius Anagonye and Adam Ballinger. He would have been the star of that young, talented squad which finished 22-13 and made the Elite Eight.

Would he have gotten drafted in the first round if he returned? Could he have led Michigan State to another Final Four, the Spartans’ fourth in five years? We’ll never know for sure, but the chances are good.

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