Spartan Spea‪k‬ Lansing State Journal

Last week's Spartan Speak podcast was spent largely talking about Michigan State basketball's future, after it looked like the Spartans weren't going to make the NCAA tournament following a loss to Purdue.

But in the last week, MSU has come to life with wins over Indiana and No. 4 Illinois and are back on the bubble. On this week's podcast, Chris Solari of the Detroit Free Press and Graham Couch of the Lansing State Journal discuss how the Spartans have turned their season around, preview the final five games of the season and whether or not they make the NCAA tournament.

Then, LSJ sports storyteller Nate Atkins grinds the tape and offers his analysis of MSU 3-star football and basketball recruit Keon Coleman, plus discussion of incoming football transfers Ben VanSumeren and Chester Kimbrough.

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Detroit Free Press sportswriter Chris Solari and Lansing State Journal sports columnist Graham Couch have a lot to get off their chest as the Michigan State men's basketball team sits 4-9 in the Big Ten after losses to Iowa and Purdue and seem very unlikely to play in the NCAA tournament for the first time in more than 20 seasons. 

Chris and Graham discuss the Spartans' problems, what's up with the rotations and how they can finish the season before looking to next season, including Enoch Boakye's decommitment, Emoni Bates, Max Christie, Jaden Akins, Pierre Brooks, "the brand" and what MSU's team might look like next season.

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Lansing State Journal reporters Nate Atkins and Phil Friend react to Wednesday's recruiting news, with Rayshaun Benny flipping from Michigan State to Michigan and the Spartans getting a commitment and signature from Keon Coleman. 

Then, they discuss the five transfer players Mel Tucker has brought into the program - QB Anthony Russo, RBs Kenneth Walker and Harold Joyner, OL Jarrett Horst and DE Drew Jordan.

That's followed by a discussion on the 2021 class as a whole, which under-the-radar players they like, position analysis and their favorite players. 

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The Michigan State men's basketball team has been on a break - two weeks now - due to COVID-19 issues. And it'll be another week before the Spartans play again. 

But the podcast doesn't take a break, as Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch and Detroit Free Press beat writer Chirs Solari talk about the layoff, what the Big Ten schedule might look like going forward, assess if the Spartans' resume is good enough for the NCAA tournament and then talk a little gambling to end the podcast, as legal online betting begins Friday in Michigan. 

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With the MSU men's basketball team four days removed from a stunning loss to Purdue and two days out from a road game against No. 8 Iowa, now's the time to evaluate where exactly the program this season. Detroit Free Press Michigan State beat writer Chris Solari and Lansing State Journal sports columnist Graham Couch discuss what's gone well and what's gone poorly as MSU currently sits 8-4 overall, and 2-4 in the Big Ten. 

Can the Spartans make a run in the Big Ten? Will they even make the NCAA tournament?

Plus, they talk about Alabama's national title win over Ohio State, and where exactly MSU and the rest of the nation fall in the pecking order of college football.

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The last time Lansing State Journal sports columnist Graham Couch and Detroit Free Press Michigan State beat writer Chris Solari recorded, MSU was 0-3 in the Big Ten. But things have changed - the Spartans upended Nebraska on Saturday and then topped No. 14 Rutgers on Tuesday.

They break it all down, including discussions on Aaron Henry, AJ Hoggard, Rocket Watts and the post players, followed by a preview of Friday's Purdue game.

Then we end the podcast discussing Tre'Von Morgan's decision to leave MSU football and enter the transfer portal.

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