The Michigan State Spartans have become accustomed to success during head coach Tom Izzo’s 30-year tenure in East Lansing. With Six Big Ten tournament titles, 26 consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament, eight Final Fours, and one national championship under his belt, success has been a hallmark of Izzo’s coaching career. However, recent years have seen the Spartans’ successes slow. Michigan State has failed to win the Big Ten tournament since 2019 and has advanced only one Sweet Sixteen appearance in their last four NCAA Tournament appearances.
This season, though, has felt like a return to form for the perennial Big Ten powerhouses. Off to a 3-0 start in conference play and 12-2 overall, Michigan State is ranked 16th in the latest AP poll and tied for first in a crowded Big Ten field. Tom Izzo has his Spartans playing the type of physical, defensive-minded basketball that was typical in his teams’ Final Four runs in the 2000s and 2010s. A key cog in their machine has been a 7’0” transfer fresh into East Lansing this season.
Szymon Zapala’s Journey To The Michigan State
Center Szymon Zapala arrived in East Lansing this summer after two previous stops on his collegiate career. Originally hailing from Zaborze, Poland, he began his collegiate career with the Utah State Aggies, with whom he made one appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Zapala spent the 2023/24 season with the Longwood Lancers of the Big South Conference, where he once again reached the NCAA Tournament. Longwood, a 16-seed in the tournament, suffered a resounding defeat at the hands of the #1-seed Houston Cougars, 86-46. Zapala notched 6 points and 3 rebounds in 18 minutes of play against the top-ranked Cougars.
Zapala entered the transfer portal in April 2024 and signed with the Spartans for his final year of eligibility in May. He has started in all 14 of Michigan State’s games so far this season, averaging 6.2 points and 5.3 rebounds in 16.3 minutes per game.
Tom Izzo On Zapala’s Impact
One of Zapala’s biggest supporters so far this season has been Tom Izzo. Speaking on Zapala’s impact after the Spartans’ 69-62 win over Ohio State on January 3, Izzo stated:
“He’s playing better. He makes us better… It seems like every day right now he’s getting a little quicker. He’s getting a little better, able to step up on ball screens. … He’s starting to run for those lobs well and we’re hitting him on it. He’s improving a lot.”
Over the Spartans’ current 7-game win streak, Zapala has shot 70.0% from the floor while adding in 5.6 rebounds per game. Zapala has been an integral part of a Michigan State team that is out-rebounding its competition 41-30 on average each game. Zapala has also added 1.3 blocks per game over the Spartans’ win streak, a key component of a Michigan State defense that has held opponents to 39.9% shooting from the field this season.
Zapala’s best performance of the season came in their victory over Ohio State. Zapala posted 15 points on 87.5% shooting to go along with 2 rebounds and 2 blocks.
Michigan State Spartans Concerns Moving Forward
Despite the win over Ohio State, Izzo voiced concerns with how his team played down the stretch. Leading 47-35 with 13:16 to play, the Spartans allowed Ohio State to claw back into the game, with the Buckeyes briefly taking the lead near the halfway point of the half. Coach Izzo pointed to turnovers as one of the key reasons the Spartans struggled to put the game away:
“They put pressure on us, we did not handle it very well. The turnovers were an absolute joke, so don’t give any credit on the turnovers. If we don’t stop doing that, it’s gonna get us.”
Zapala and the Spartans play next on Thursday, January 9 in a home game against the Washington Huskies (10-5, 1-3 Big Ten). Michigan State is 7-0 at home so far this season.
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