Michigan State basketball needs to go all-in on NC State transfer Manny Bates

Tom Izzo and Michigan State basketball have been relatively quiet in the transfer portal, but the Spartans must go all-in on Manny Bates.

As soon as the offseason began, Michigan State basketball fans quickly turned their attention to the transfer portal and it was widely agreed upon that Tom Izzo needed to target a center.

More big names entered the portal and Michigan State stood its ground. The Spartans were not mentioned as potential suitors for any of the top-tier bigs that entered the portal and the worry began to set in with some fans.

Then, on Tuesday, Julius Marble hit the transfer portal, leaving Michigan State with just one center on the roster for 2022-23 and it was the unproven and lightly-used Mady Sissoko.

How would the Spartans expect to compete for a Big Ten title next year with a guy who averaged less than five minutes per game starting and playing 20-plus minutes at center? There’s just no way a team like that could do much of anything in the conference, let alone against some elite bigs in non-conference play.

And then Oscar Tshiebwe of Kentucky — the reigning national player of the year — announced he would be returning next season. Why does this matter in the case of Michigan State? Oh, just because he’s going to be the Spartans’ first 2022-23 season opponent in the Champions Classic.

Mady vs. Tshiebwe promises to be one of the biggest mismatches in college basketball history if Izzo doesn’t target a center in the portal with a defensive presence.

There’s a center currently in the portal that needs to be made a priority by Michigan State and Izzo: NC State’s Manny Bates.

Bates was one of the ACC’s best defenders for two years before he missed the entire 2021-22 campaign with an injury. He averaged 2.9 blocks as a freshman in 2019-20 and then 2.7 blocks in 2020-21. He has 147 blocks in 54 career games. That’s what Michigan State needs.

On top of being an elite rim protector, Bates can also dabble on the offensive end, averaging 9.8 points on 64 percent shooting as a sophomore in 2020-21. He also improved his free throw shooting percentage 20 whole points from his freshman to sophomore year. And he averaged 5.9 rebounds per game in his second season but he’s capable of more.

Bates is a 6-11, 230-pound monster in the post who can neutralize even the most dominant bigs and he’s exactly what Michigan State needs on its roster for next season — along with Max Christie — in order to make Big Ten and national title runs.

But time is running out as Butler is making a serious push for Bates. Izzo needs to act now.