3 Major Questions Facing MSU Basketball Entering Quinnipiac Game

Michigan State’s preseason exhibition games have really provided more questions than answers.

The sixth-ranked Spartans are now just two days away from their official season opener against Quinnipiac, out of the Metro Conference. Monday will be the first-ever meeting between MSU and the Bobcats.

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Exhibitions against UConn and Marquette can be interesting, but those games don’t count. This one does. Hopefully, Michigan State can offer real answers to the questions posed below.

Who Will Emerge at Center?

Michigan State center Anton Bonke (34) battles for possession during an exhibition against UConn at the Breslin Center on Tuesday, October 20, 2026 | Starr Portice, Michigan State Spartans on SI

The frontcourt, and more specifically center, seems to be MSU’s weak spot right now. That area didn’t look particularly promising in any of the Spartans’ three exhibition games, and Michigan State will need to figure that out if it wants to become the national title-contending team it has expressed confidence it can be.

The first smaller question is simply about who will be MSU’s starting center. Anton Bonke started in the Spartans’ first two exhibitions against Incarnate Word and UConn, but then things turned over to Jesse McCulloch against Marquette.

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Bonke’s lack of involvement has been particularly unusual. He was brought to Michigan State from the transfer portal to be the team’s presumed starter, but he played just nine combined minutes in the team’s two exhibitions against the Huskies and Golden Eagles. The real concern is that Tom Izzo hasn’t inserted Bonke into those two exhibitions at all during the second half.

Michigan State Spartans forward Jesse McCulloch attempts a free throw against the Oakland Golden Grizzlies at Little Caesars Arena on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. | Starr Portice, Michigan State Spartans on SI

“We’re trying to figure out what ball screen coverages we want to use,” Izzo said. “You know, one of our jobs is putting people in a position…

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Publish date : 2026-10-31 11:00:00

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