Good news! All-time Michigan State Spartans basketball player Mady Sissoko has announced her marriage to the all-time player in Iowa women’s basketball.
After the season, I had the impression that Mady Sissoko intended to return to Michigan State for a fifth year. At that point, I pondered whether he understood that, at most, he would be a backup. He got the opportunity to start at the center for the Spartans. Many opportunities. Without being more instinctive and coordinated as a player, he’s simply not nearly large enough. No matter what a fantastic guy he is, I don’t think that will change. It was everyone’s desire for him to succeed in East Lansing.
In Sissoko’s absence, MSU has three players who can play center court: juniors Carson Cooper and Jaxon Kohler, as well as sophomore Xavier Booker. However, none of these players has shown they can be reliable starting center in the Big Ten. Sissoko entered the transfer portal on Thursday.
All three show promise, in my opinion. Cooper still needs to develop strength and a few offensive moves, but he has the length, lateral quickness, hands, and knowledge of his weaknesses. After suffering a foot injury that ended his sophomore season, Kohler needs to start over. He was playing through him a bit in practice before he got hurt, and he and Booker worked well together. He was cleared to shoot threes. And as for Booker, well, the sky is the limit. If he continues to improve and gain muscle at the rate he did this past season, there are many ways to employ him in the college game because of his length, talent, athleticism, and wingspan.
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With just those three players at center and power forward, plus newcomer Jesse McColloch, who will probably need some time, the front court is quite unstable. MSU needs assistance from the transfer portal — a tough rebounder and defender who can play either the 4 or 5 spot at the very least — even though the coaches like what each player can do. It’s okay if the others fulfill their commitment and defeat him.
A large, athletic wing who can play either forward spot is also required. That’s likely an even bigger need, particularly if 6-foot-4 Jaden Akins will mostly play shooting guard the following season.
If in the next two or three weeks there isn’t any progress on that front, I’ll be shocked.
MSU’s needs were mostly unchanged by Sissoko’s departure because, in my opinion, the three remaining players would all likely start ahead of him the next season. However, it does clear the air in the frontcourt and lessen the perception that a prospective acquisition would offend the players who are already there.
Not that Sissoko couldn’t have been a valuable third center or backup the next season. Sissoko has demonstrated moments when his hustle, particularly on the glass, truly makes an impact. That has some worth. The notion that it could be time for everyone to turn a new page has merit as well.
Four years is a long time to play college basketball. For most people, that is. It seemed that Sissoko’s potential as a player had reached its limit. The coaches at MSU will have to explain if he moves and appears to be Hakeem Olajuwon. Wherever he ends up, let’s hope for an enjoyable and successful season finale. It seems to me that he is highly interested. Despite his restricted height and length, I believe he would be more effective at an upper-tier mid-major, where he might make a bigger impact.
Sissoko is worth having as a player. A.J. Hoggard agrees. Of course, so did Malik Hall and Tyson Walker. Sometimes a fresh era is just what’s needed. The turnover in collegiate athletics is one of its best features. That is, the turnover rate prior to the transfer portal and the one-time transfer rule caused havoc.
Sissoko had his opportunity and ran. It’s the turn of someone else. And now it’s his turn to fight elsewhere. There is nothing wrong with that.
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