The 2025-26 college basketball season came to an end on Monday night as Michigan cut down the nets for the first time since 1989, and Michigan State fans had to watch in excruciating pain.
Tom Izzo was one of those Spartans watching, and you know it had to irk him deep down that Dusty May was able to win his first national title before he could win No. 2. He has to feel the pressure of bringing home another title after Monday night’s nightmare scenario unfolded.
Michigan was dominant all year and it’s because May built his team up through the portal. He did so out of necessity after blowing up the 8-24 team that he took over, but he had to continue it this season because those previous transfers left for the most part. May went to the portal, paid some big boy money, and addressed key needs throughout his roster.
It ended up paying off with a national title two years after taking the Michigan job.
Izzo learned one thing on Monday night: to win it all, you have to spend with the big boys.
The pressure is now on the Hall of Famer to respond to his rival winning it all by doing everything he can to improve his roster and make sure that he has the pieces to compete for a national title in Detroit next spring. He has to respond to this in a big way, and there’s only one way to do that.
Tom Izzo has to pay for a high-level center
Michigan State’s roster heading into next season is looking pretty solid and far deeper than it was this year, but the frontcourt is a little thinner than anyone would like.
Jaxon Kohler and Carson Cooper are both moving on, Ethan Taylor might be a slight project, and Jesse McCulloch isn’t going to be able to handle the bulk of the minutes at center after averaging just 7.4 minutes per game as a redshirt freshman. These guys need a high-level transfer center to lead the way so McCulloch isn’t playing 30 minutes per game.
Michigan State will likely need a center who can also play power forward in bigger lineups. The Spartans need a guy who can play 25 minutes per game and stretch the floor.
I’ve made my ideal addition known as I’d like Alabama’s Aiden Sherrell to pick the green and white after hitting the portal on Monday, but he’s going to have plenty of suitors — rumor is that Michigan is also heavily involved with the talented big man.
Add Sherrell to this lineup and I think Michigan State is a legit national title favorite in 2026-27.
Have to spend some money if that’s going to happen.