Trice doubtful for Wednesday, still being tested
UPDATE: 7:30 p.m. - Sophomore guard Travis Trice was held out of practice, late Monday afternoon. He has not practiced since sustaining a head injury during last Thursday's game against Illinois.
Tom Izzo told SpartanMag.com that Trice is "probably 90 percent doubtful" for practice tomorrow and Wednesday's game against Minnesota.
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Freshman guard Gary Harris practiced Monday but was held out of contact drills. Izzo told SpartanMag.com Harris is probable to play against the Gophers.
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EAST LANSING (2:05 p.m.) - Michigan State is preparing for today's 4 p.m. practice still uncertain of the status of Gary Harris and Travis Trice, head coach Tom Izzo said during his weekly press conference on Monday.
Harris and Trice failed to finish Thursday's victory over Illinois due to injuries. Harris left the game with back spasms. Trice left with a head injury.
Izzo indicated that thinks Harris might suit up for today's practice. Izzo said Trice is undergoing tests Monday afternoon to determine his status for practices and Wednesday's home game against Minnesota (7 p.m., Big Ten Network).
As for the likelihood that one or both of the players could miss the game on Wednesday, Izzo said: "I think it is definitely possible. It's possible that both (could miss the game). It's real possible one won't (play)."
Trice is perceived as the player most likely to miss Wednesday's game. Trice missed 19 days in November due to a concussion he sustained in the season opener against Connecticut.
"We are going to have to wait and see what Gary looks like today, and the tests they do on Travis, to see how it comes out," Izzo said.
Izzo indicated that he was waiting word on the tests, even as Monday's press conference was taking place.
"I'm hoping to get some reports today," Izzo said. "I was hoping to get something yesterday but sometimes they will wait a little bit on those things."
Izzo was asked if Trice's November head injury will make it more difficult for the sophomore to pass today's health-clearance test.
"You know what? I have no clue," Izzo said. "I am the anti-Jud. Jud used to be Dr. Knee Surgeon. I just stay out of it because it frustrates me. It sometimes ticks me off. I know enough, I'm smart enough to not ever try to make a decision - especially with this.
"But with any injury, I do have faith in my trainers and doctors and I really do stay out of it."
Izzo liked what he saw in Trice on Sunday.
"I talked to the kid yesterday," Izzo said. "He was better than he was at UConn, but at UConn he was out two-and-a-half, three weeks, so that doesn't make me feel any better. So it is totally up to the tests. I don't think that (the history) plays a big part in it."
Trice sustained the injury late in the first half on Saturday against Illinois, as he drove for an attempted lay-up.
"It was really hard to see the injury," Izzo said. "On film, there was kind of a guy in the way and I couldn't tell if it was a knee or if it was an elbow. It was one of the rare times that you really couldn't see on film."
As for Harris, trainers worked on him during the Illinois game in hopes of getting him back on the floor, to no avail.
"He couldn't walk," Izzo said. "They worked on him for 20 minutes in there. It was all out of whack. There is nothing broken, nothing serious. But the spasming was so bad that he couldn't do anything.
"He is better (now). But better, and being able to play, and play 35 minutes are different things.
"I'm hoping to find out a little bit in practice today if he can go any, and what he can do.
"It's not like it's going to be recurring or anything that can damage it. He's getting worked on every day."