But for Izzo, who has led the Spartans over the span of four decades now, it is part money and it is part fit that determines who gets who. And now, everyone wants to play right away.

“Nobody’s coming to sit anymore. Jason Richardson came there and played 16 minutes a game,” Izzo said. “He was the No. 5 player in the country but it was a national championship team. … Draymond [Green] came there and played eight minutes a game. That ain’t happening anymore. I think Purdue and us have done it pretty similarly over the years – probably because of our mentors. I’d like to see Jud [Heathcoate], Gene [Keady] and Bobby [Knight] and Clem [Haskins], I’d like to see those guys when I first came into the league survive in this time. I think that people can get caught up in who you got, who you don’t got, and I think most kids are over-ballied anyway.”

Izzo also felt that the same problem of rushing young players to the spotlight is stunting their development for the NBA as well.

“I mean, they are drafting all these kids in the first round and it used to be nobody went to the G League in the first round and now over half the first round is spending a lot of time in the G League,” Pederson said. “Kids just aren’t ready. And that includes college. Money a little bit, but I think just the fact that you know, we got some good players [already] and got some good players that could be back. You know, that’s our problem. Does [Xavier] Booker get good enough and go, does somebody else get good enough and go? Does somebody else get unhappy and leave? But right now, that’s not the way it is. Kids will go different places now just to play, and some of that’s the NIL, they think the NIL opportunities will be bigger if you’re playing and scoring points. It’s a challenging part, but I’m cool where we are.”

Michael France is Sports Illustrated’s Michigan State recruiting beat writer, covering all things Big Ten recruiting for Spartan Nation. Be sure to follow him on Twitter/X@michaelfrancesi for exclusive Spartans recruiting coverage.

Don’t forget to follow the official Spartan Nation Page on Facebook Spartan Nation WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE, and be a part of our vibrant community group Go Green Go White as well WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE.