Michigan State basketball avoided disaster with some positive injuries

Tom Izzo shared some positive news Thursday night about one of the best role players Michigan State basketball has to offer.

The Hall of Fame head coach spoke to the media regarding Jase Richardson’s ankle injury suffered in the Samford win, which had some worried he would miss extended time, and he talked fans off their feet. They were concerned that Richardson might have suffered a severe ankle sprain — or potentially worse — and Izzo stated Thursday that he would be fine for Maui.

Izzo reportedly held Richardson out of Thursday’s practice as a precaution, but “he should be good to go” when they arrive in Hawaii for the Maui Invitational.

For a team that is still searching for its identity and has shown flashes of being really good but just hasn’t put it all together yet, losing Richardson would be a killer.

Freshman phenom and son of MSU legend Jason Richardson has been one of the most consistent players on the roster this season, and he’s been a spark off the bench. Through his first five games at the collegiate level, he has scored at least eight points in four of them and is averaging 8.4 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists while shooting 63 percent from the floor and 50 percent from deep. He also has just one turnover in 104 minutes this year.

Fortunately, it looks like Michigan State will get him back to Maui, and the Spartans will need him with teams like North Carolina, Iowa State, UConn and Auburn in the field.

Hopefully this minor injury hasn’t messed with his confidence because he’s oozed it so far.