Lucas unlikely to play Saturday

EAST LANSING - The decision may have to wait until Saturday afternoon, Tom Izzo said Thursday, but a lot would have to change between now and then for the decision to be: Kalin plays.

Star guard Kalin Lucas' right ankle was swollen and buried in ice as his Michigan State teammates practiced Thursday afternoon, and Izzo said Lucas is "very, very questionable" for Saturday's game at Illinois.

"I just watch him walk and I say, 'If you can barely walk on Thursday, how can you play on Saturday, in a big game?' " Izzo said of Lucas, who rolled the ankle in the second half of Tuesday's 67-49 loss at Wisconsin when he came down on the foot of Wisconsin's Keaton Nankivil.

The long-term outlook is more encouraging for Lucas. It is not a high ankle sprain, as Lucas initially thought, and even if he can't play Saturday he may be able to go when Purdue visits Breslin Center for a key game Tuesday.

The No. 5 Spartans (19-4 overall, 9-1 Big Ten) have a two-game lead over Wisconsin, Illinois, Purdue and Ohio State.

"The good news is, there's nothing there that's gonna linger," Izzo said of Lucas. "It's just, does he miss a game or two? That's bad news for us. But I mean there's nothing in the future, or down the road, and I mean down the road three weeks. It's not like Ray's was."

Izzo was referring to senior forward Raymar Morgan, who was immobile for more than two weeks just before the season with a high left ankle sprain.

"Mine was way worse," Morgan said.

Even if Lucas' ankle strengthens enough for him to play Saturday, he likely won't start or play major minutes, Izzo said.

Sophomore Korie Lucious is preparing to start at point guard in Lucas' place, with junior Chris Allen preparing to run the point some as well. Izzo also said walk-on guard Mike Kebler could see some action at point guard.

Kebler, a 6-foot-4 junior, was a standout shooting guard at Okemos High. He practiced Thursday with the Green team, or regulars, for the first time in his career.

"It was intense," Kebler said. "A lot different, but definitely a good different."

Izzo said he feels better about Kebler since Kebler came into his office about six weeks ago and asked about playing time - displaying the belief that he can help at this level.

"Mike Kebler's a pretty good player," Izzo said. "He's a very good athlete. He can guard, he's strong, he handles. He's not the most confident guy in the world. ... I mean I don't feel like we couldn't play with Mike Kebler in there some, I really don't."

Lucas isn't the only ailing Spartan. Sophomore forward Delvon Roe slightly hyperextended his left knee Tuesday - not the right knee that he had major surgery on as a high school senior.

Roe practiced some Thursday and should play Saturday, but he is sore, Izzo said.

Izzo also said Morgan made a difference in practice with Lucas absent.

"Raymar had his best practice of his career here," Izzo said. "He really did.

"He just did it on both ends and he talked and he was into it."

Said Morgan: "I just felt I had to get guys going, that was my main focus. The show must go on."

That seems to be the prevailing feeling for a team that likely will be protecting its Big Ten lead Saturday without its best player.

"We have a big game to win and we can win the game without Kalin," Izzo said. "It's just not gonna be as easy."