Spartan Avenue
Fansided

Michigan State Basketball: 3 players who should be getting less minutes

By Jack Williams

Michigan State forward Thomas Kithier (15) looks to pass against Rutgers during the first half at the Breslin Center in East Lansing, Mich., Tuesday Jan. 5, 2021.
Michigan State forward Thomas Kithier (15) looks to pass against Rutgers during the first half at the Breslin Center in East Lansing, Mich., Tuesday Jan. 5, 2021. /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
Michigan State’s Thomas Kithier, right, battles Purdue’s Trevion Williams in the paint during the first half on Friday, Jan. 8, 2021, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.210108 Msu Purdue 056a
Michigan State’s Thomas Kithier, right, battles Purdue’s Trevion Williams in the paint during the first half on Friday, Jan. 8, 2021, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.210108 Msu Purdue 056a /

Thomas Kithier

For what it’s worth, I actually think Thomas Kithier can develop into a strong player in by the end of the 2021 season. He knows the game better than anybody on the court and we saw him thrive next to the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in Xavier Tillman. If you think Kithier holds no value on this team, you’re flat out wrong.

But when you march out onto the court with Thomas Kithier and Joey Hauser as your big men, what do you expect to happen in the most physical league in college basketball? Could anybody see a world where that works out?

Kithier gets trashed incessantly on social media for being put into a role that he does not belong in. For him to thrive, he needs a strong big man to distract offenses, allowing him to play as a smart secondary guy down low.

And to an extent, Izzo has realized this. Kithier has seen reduced playing time in the last couple of games, both of which resulted in a win. The only reason I keep him on this list is because Kithier’s reduced court time may be a result of an illness that he suffered early against Nebraska.

Home/Spartans Basketball