It was announced on Thursday that Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo expects to have his full starting lineup ready to go when the Spartans take on the Purdue Boilermakers on Saturday night... healthy, or not.
Keith Appling, Adreian Payne, Gary Harris and Branden Dawson, all of whom are banged-up in some way or another, are all expected to be ready to go for the Spartans' Big Ten match up against Purdue.
Appling, who was knocked out of the game during Michigan State's tough 61-50 win over the No. 18 Minnesota Gophers on Wednesday, will play after reportedly popping his shoulder in and out numerous times and leaving late in the effort. Payne missed most of the second half due to a bloody nose and a number of other minor injuries have kept some of the starting lineup for Izzo's squad on and off the bench during the last few match ups.
Most-importantly, the Spartans will look to be at 100 percent, or as close to it as possible, for their upcoming battle in the Breslin Center against arch-rival and No. 3-rated Michigan. Without a full crew at pique performance levels, Tom Izzo and his boys will have their hands full trying to take down a resilient Wolverines group - even at home in East Lansing.
Also reported on Thursday was the return of MSU's Travis Trice, who went through shooting drills after missing the entire game against Minnesota due to a head injury. Trice will likely see some playing time against the Boilermakers in an effort to further prepare for the Wolverines on Tuesday night.
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