Michigan State basketball: AJ Hoggard using latest disrespect as bulletin board material

It’s Michigan State basketball season, folks. While we’re just a couple of days away from the official start of the season with Hillsdale coming to town for an exhibition on Wednesday, the hype is at an all-time high.

The Spartans return one of the best backcourts in college basketball to go along with an elite incoming freshman class and a solid group of veterans mixed in.

This team could be legitimately special.

Many actually believe that it’s led by the best point guard in the Big Ten: AJ Hoggard.

A case could be made for Hoggard being the top point guard in the conference as he leads the Big Ten’s best backcourt. He was 12th nationally in assists per game last year and averaged nearly 13 points and shot over 40 percent from the field and 80 percent from the line. Oh, and he played some lockdown defense against really good players (looking at you, Tyler Kolek).

But yet he was snubbed from the preseason Bob Cousy Award watch list which is given to the nation’s top point guard every year. There were 20 guys on it and Hoggard was not one.

He took it personally.

The Michigan State basketball star is taking notes

Hoggard said at Big Ten Media Days a couple of weeks ago that he uses the media’s disrespect as fuel. He admitted that the media and the lists put out with him being omitted add to that massive chip on his shoulder.

Well, he was paying attention on Monday as the Bob Cousy Award watch list was revealed.

As Michigan State fans, this is exactly what you want. You want an angry AJ Hoggard who is going to play with something to prove. He did it all last season, and especially during the NCAA Tournament when he averaged 16 points per game and shot 50 percent from the field.

Watch out for Hoggard this season as he’s about to play with infinite motivation and bulletin board material.