Around this time last year, Michigan State basketball was looking to cut down its rotation. The Spartans were playing 10 or 11 guys every night, and head coach Tom Izzo didn't see a way they could sustain that mark as the season progressed and the team eyed a deep postseason run.
The strategy paid off as the Spartans returned to the Elite Eight, and they're among the top contenders again this season — while also playing 10 or 11 guys each night. But this year, it doesn't sound like MSU plans to shake things up again.
"Some of that depends on the players who are playing, but for the most part, yes, I still see us playing [with an 11-man rotation]," Izzo told reporters after Monday's win over Cornell.
The change in approach is a further reflection of the depth of this Spartan team. While there have been struggles at times, each player has also had their moments where they've added value and come through for the program. Continuing to play all 11 guys in the rotation will allow them to maintain the chemistry and cohesion they've built with one another and prepare the Spartans for the worst-case scenarios.
Regardless of how deep your team is to begin the year, the depth will be challenged at some point.
One position group that has showcased enough depth to handle those challenges this season is the backcourt. Transfers Trey Fort and Divine Ugochukwu, along with sophomore Kur Teng and freshman Jordan Scott, have played mostly admirably alongside Jeremy Fears. The various combinations give MSU unique advantages depending on the pair on the court -- from elite defensive options and high-IQ players with scoring potential to versatile ball-handlers to elite shot-makers.
The only substantial disadvantage that is clear to fans is the defensive downgrade when backup point guard Denham Wojcik enters the game. He has not been a consistently good defender, a common prerequisite to the rotation for an Izzo-led team. Yet, it doesn't sound like his role will diminish in conference play.
"I think it's worked out pretty good," he told the media when asked about inserting Ugochukwu into the starting lineup at the two-guard and allowing Wojcik to usurp the backup point role. "Divine's getting a little hungrier. I give Trey, Divine, Jordan, and Kur credit because ... I've got as good of guys as you can have, and I've got as good of guys pulling for one another that I could have. You should see these huddles. We're really good at that."
Izzo is still preaching confidence in the group. He likes his chances, no matter which players are rotating in the backcourt or how the media chooses to speculate. In his book, if you give effort, you'll be in the playing rotation.
"I don't have a controversy," he added. "If someone's sick or not playing well and it's effort-related, you're not going to play. It's pretty simple. I've been pleased with how the players have handled that, so kudos goes to them."