Michigan State basketball included in multiple 'way-too-early' power rankings

ESPN's way-too-early Top 25

ESPN is another organization that has released their way too early rankings for next year, and Michigan State unfortunately was left off of their top 25. ESPN placed the Spartans in the "Next in line" category at No. 29 in the country.

This feels like a more accurate place to rank Michigan State as of today. Even with all of the question marks surrounding the team, they still have a lot of solid pieces in place. This includes talented guards like Jaden Akins, Tre Holloman, and Jeremy Fears Jr. as well as Xavier Booker who is ready to make a huge leap next year.

But I think the biggest thing that is making experts rank MSU this high is the expectation for them to be active in the transfer portal. Average teams can become great in today's college basketball just from landing one or two elite transfers. The Spartans have a chance to do just that. MSU was in on three different transfers pretty early in the cycle, and a fourth name was just added Wednesday night in Oakland star Trey Townsend.

So if Tom Izzo can land a few of these transfers, they could shoot up these rankings even more.

But one thing's for certain, Michigan State is going to have to earn their respect next season. Nobody is going to believe that MSU is going to be a great team next year, but maybe that's exactly how we should want it. MSU always seems to do well in the underdog rule, so hopefully Izzo can use that to his advantage and lead his team to a bounceback season, one that is desperately needed in East Lansing.