Payne, however, is a senior. After three years, why should we expect more?
Because it's clear Payne is still scratching the surface of immense talent. Take his 3-point shooting, for instance. After two years of never, ever shooting 3s -- and a freshman season in which the notion of Payne shooting the ball from anywhere but the low block would have been a laughable proposition -- Payne suddenly added a long-range shot to his arsenal midway through last season. It happened Jan. 27 at Indiana, when Payne went 3 of 4 from three, attempting and making as many 3s in one evening as he had all season. It wasn't a fluke. Payne shot 3s frequently in MSU's final 15 games, finishing the year 16-of-42. His long-range work was a sudden, crucial wrinkle -- a totally new and workable way for the Spartans to attack. And it almost seemed impromptu.
Likewise, Payne was a better ballhandler and passer than at any point in his career, but he could still get better at both. He is a more versatile interior scorer than in the past, when he served as a raw shot-blocker, rebounder and rim-runner, but he could still add a go-to move over both shoulders in the post.
But it's clear all of these things are on development curves, and that unlike some college juniors and seniors, Payne is nowhere near close to fully formed as a player.
