EAST LANSING — Thanksgiving in the desert looks like it will be a mostly full table for Michigan State basketball.
Tom Izzo said his 19th-ranked Spartans expect to have Tyson Walker and Malik Hall ready for their game with No. 3 Arizona on Thursday. The two seniors went through practice Monday as Izzo and his team prepares to leave early Tuesday for Palm Desert, California.
Leading scorer Walker sat out Sunday’s 81-49 win over Alcorn State at Breslin Center. Hall played just three minutes in the second half against the Braves after tweaking an ankle, finishing with four points, four assists and three rebounds in 17 minutes.
“I was surprised Tyson made it. He took a few breaks but was in most of the practice,” Izzo said after Monday’s workout. “He said he woke up this morning and felt 99% better. So that was encouraging. And Malik doesn’t seem to have any problem with his ankle.”
Michigan State’s Tyson Walker, right, moves the ball as Butler’s Jahmyl Telfort defends during the second half on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023, in East Lansing.
Tipoff for the Acrisure Classic between MSU (3-2) and the Wildcats (5-0) is 4 p.m. The game will be broadcast on Fox after the NFL game between the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers.
Walker got scratched from the Spartans’ lineup against Alcorn State after beginning to experience “flu-like” symptoms Saturday. He sat on the MSU bench Sunday in a sweatsuit. The Long Island native leads the Spartans at 23 points while shooting 53.8% in 32.5 minutes through the first four games.
Izzo said he does not expect the illness to affect Walker’s stamina against Arizona.
“I didn’t think it was bad today considering not even a day off,” Izzo said. “But you never know. The second day usually matters; thank God we got a third day yet, so we got a little time. And hopefully Ty, he’ll respond.
“Right now, he’s been our most consistent worker, (best) conditioned guy, defensive player, offensive player and coach. So he’s been the most…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/michigan-state-basketball-expect-tyson-111542765.html
Author : Detroit Free Press
Publish date : 2023-11-21 11:15:42
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