Could an Oregon State transfer be Tyson Walker’s replacement?
One thing I don’t think Michigan State fans are talking about enough is the massive hole in the roster now that Tyson Walker’s time in East Lansing is up. Walker just averaged nearly 18.5 points per game this season and was always the go-to guy for the team whenever they needed him. That’s not an easy thing to replace.
Tom Izzo has recently shared that he thinks Jaden Akins could replace Walker next season. However, why not let Akins be Akins and instead get a mirror image player out of the portal to replace Walker?
NEWS: Oregon State guard Jordan Pope plans to enter the transfer portal, he tells @on3sports. ⁰⁰The 6-2 sophomore led the Beavers in scoring this season, averaging 17.6 PPG. Big addition to the portal. https://t.co/rzZr73gGuq pic.twitter.com/NOnBnwe1Rp
— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) April 2, 2024
Jordan Pope is a guard from Oregon State that I think could be the replacement Michigan State needs for Tyson. The similarities between Pope and Walker are shocking, so let’s dive into them.
The three major statistical categories -- points, rebounds, and assists -- are all within one of each other for each player. Pope averaged 17.6 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game while Walker averaged 18.4 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.8 assists. Pope was also 45.1 percent from the field this season compared to 44.9 percent from Walker. Finally, their 3-point shooting percentages were also only 0.5 percent apart from each other.
So you can clearly see that Pope and Walker are the same player statistically. But the similarities don’t stop there. Pope is entering the transfer portal as a sophomore, just like Walker did. Pope also was the Beavers’ go-to scorer, and is just as cold-blooded as Walker. Just take a look at this game-winner in an upset win over Arizona from earlier this year and try to tell me it doesn’t look a little like Tyson.
JORDAN POPE ONIONS!! pic.twitter.com/21up4DBsjQ
— College Basketball Report (@CBKReport) January 26, 2024
Now I’ve always said there’s no replacing Tyson Walker simply because that’s how special he was for MSU. But why not try? Tom Izzo hasn’t been publically connected to a player like Pope, but maybe he should be. Maybe this is the exact player Michigan State needs next year.
I don’t know about you, but if MSU added a player like Pope and a dominant center from the portal, I might pick this team to win the Big Ten.