Michigan State coach Tom Izzo made a point earlier this week. Kalin Lucas is no wimp.
Even if the injured point guard could only play five minutes, he was going to lobby to get all five of those minutes.
He wasn’t introduced during pregame warmups, which worried fans, but his rousing ovation came just a few minutes after tipoff. And he lasted much longer than those five minutes Izzo had talked about.
Lucas’ importance to the Spartans’ success and longevity has been underlined and boldfaced in the last few games. He sprained his ankle in a loss at Wisconsin and the Spartans dropped their next game without him at Illinois.
That three-game stranglehold on the Big Ten race loosened as Lucas sat on the sideline.
The Spartans entered Tuesday’s game at the Breslin Center with a one-game lead on Illinois, Wisconsin and Ohio State. A few minutes after tipoff, everyone learned that Illinois, which beat Wisconsin, could share the Big Ten lead with Michigan State if the Spartans lost to Purdue.
The Boilermakers, considered among the most talented in the league along with Michigan State, entered the game in third place.
Lucas checked in with 14:25 left in the first half, after Korie Lucious started in his place. A little more than a minute later, he went nearly the length of the court for a layup and 16-13 lead.
But he was limited early on, scoring just six points in the first half and taking only three shots as the No. 10 Spartans fell behind 47-33 to the No. 6 Boilermakers.
Lucious remained at the point while Lucas played a more limited role off the ball.
Lucas had not practiced full force in about a week, participating only in a walkthrough and light layup drill on Sunday. Although it was evident at times that Lucas wasn’t putting full force on his ankle, the Spartans clearly need him to be leaders of the Big Ten.
How his teammates become involved until he’s full strength might be as vital as the healing of the most talked about ankle in the Big Ten.
At halftime, forward Raymar Morgan and Durrell Summers each had only two points.
The Boilermakers have shown they can endure tough times.
They survived playing without guard Lewis Jackson through most of the season and didn’t let a three-game losing streak collapse them.
The Spartans need that same type of resiliency.
Through much of the season, Izzo challenged and prodded the players until someone emerged as a leader.
Lucas got the message when he was benched at a late December practice when Izzo criticized his abilities as a leader. Izzo has since lauded Lucas, who registered four 20-point games and several clutch plays, for taking responsibility.
Now other players need to as well while Lucas heals.
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sryan@tribune.com
