A new episode of Michigan State’s “The Cut” was released on Monday, and it featured some current and former players talking about what the expectation is as a Spartan basketball player.
Tom Izzo has instilled an expectation for all of his guys and he demands a lot. It’s why his teams are usually contenders when the calendar turns to March. Michigan State has a culture of winning and it’s because Izzo has made it feel like one big family.
Coen Carr talked about it, assistant Blake Lampman who just played for Oakland a couple of years ago spoke on it, and a former fan favorite who now finds himself back in East Lansing on Izzo’s coaching staff went in depth on “the standard” and also touched on what brought him back to Michigan State after leaving about 15 years ago.
“It just felt right.”
That was the simple answer that Raymar gave on why he decided to return under Izzo as a coach after spending four seasons with him as a player.
The longer answer?
“I wanted to be able to give the guys as much knowledge as possible on the game, at what I see, being as I was in their shoes once upon a time… I’m looking to instill just good character. I want them to leave with better morals and principles than what they came in with.”
Morgan talked about how Izzo sets the standard and how players who follow his blueprint are usually successful and those who don’t, aren’t. He also said that the main reason he decided to join Izzo’s coaching staff is because he’s back finishing up his degree. Raymar decided to dedicate his free time in between taking classes to helping out the coach who helped him.
It’s cool to see former players come back for full-circle moments like this, and Raymar is just the latest to do it. Goran Suton is also on the coaching staff, as is Austin Thornton. Matt McQuaid has been around as a grad assistant and Tum Tum Nairn was famously an assistant before becoming Bowling Green’s associate head coach.
I’d bet that we see some more former players back in East Lansing following the same path that Raymar has taken. Michigan State is one big family.