Michigan State Spartans Insider Podcast: X Factors for MSU Hoops

Kur Teng | Starr Portice, Michigan State Spartans on SI

Michigan State basketball is once again going to have to rely on strength in numbers next season, a recipe that worked out well for the Spartans last season.

That means every player in the rotation will be crucial to the team's success. But which ones stand out the most when it comes to players who might not be considered more of an "afterthought" from the outside, yet still hold as much weight as anyone?

On this episode of the Michigan State Spartans Insider Podcast, our Aidan Champion identifies which players he believes will be the Spartans' X factors.

You can watch the episode below:

Michigan State transfer sixth-year senior guard Trey Fort addressed the media after his showing at the Moneyball Pro-Am on Tuesday. Below is a partial transcript:

On what he works on in Moneyball ...

Fort: "Everything. Confidence, consistency, just playing the game the right way as always, but also, you want to be creative. You want to have a little edge to you so when you get in uncomfortable situations, it's nothing new to you."

Fort: "We pretty much all have the same goals, and that's being consistent. Being a consistent shooter. Every time I'm open or any time the shot goes up, everybody's supposed to know it's going in. Being a great teammate, keeping my teammates involved,"

On Michigan State so far ...

Fort: "I love it. Everything that happens, the environment, any corner I turn, it just feels very loving and inviting, welcoming. And that's what I felt on my visit, that's one of the reasons I also chose to go to Michigan State is the environment is insane. The fans are wonderful, just everybody is just fun."

Kur Teng Will be an X Factor for MSU

On dynamic with Kur Teng ...

Fort: "Kur, that's my guy. We've been in the gym every single day and having fun. We see something that somebody needs to work on or where we can help somebody in that area, we go in and we listen to it on both sides. It's not a one-side thing.

"Kur helps me, I help him, and that goes with everybody else as well."

Fort: "Kur, he's been great. I mean, even out here, I see the confidence in him, and I'm ready to see it this season myself, man. Just be alongside with him and have him behind me, and I'm behind him, it's going to be amazing. And we're going to continue to instill confidence in each other, and we're going to go for a good year."

Carson Cooper Will be an X Factor for MSU

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This article was originally published on www.si.com/college/michiganstate as Michigan State Spartans Insider Podcast: X Factors for MSU Hoops.