When the Kentucky Wildcats face the Michigan State Spartans in the Champions Classic, one of the best players for either side will be sidelined due to injury.
On Tuesday, Spartans head coach Tom Izzo revealed that senior guard Joshua Langford will likely be out until at least January with a foot injury.
In a press conference in East Lansing (I'm currently listening from Ann Arbor), Tom Izzo tells reporters that Joshua Langford's foot problem has resurfaced. The senior is projected to be out of the Michigan State lineup through January.
— Brendan Quinn (@BFQuinn) October 22, 2019
It’s the same foot Langford injured in late December, which ended his 2018-19 season, and it will cost him a good portion of this upcoming season.
Langford was averaging career-highs in minutes played (28.6), points scored (15.0), assists (2.3), three-point percentage (41.6) and rebounds (3.6) before going down. He has shot 40% or better in every year at Michigan State.
The Spartans are already feeling the effects of this loss, as they recently lost a ‘secret’ scrimmage to Gonzaga 103-87. The Bulldogs have a lot of potential, but they’re currently without potential NBA Draft pick Killian Tillie and are replacing four of five starters from last season, so this was a concerning loss on paper considering the Spartans are ranked No. 1 in nearly every major preseason poll.
The Spartans are already looking to replace the departures of Kenny Goins, Matt McQuaid and Nick Ward. So when they face Kentucky, they’ll be without four of the five starters who opened the 2018-19 season, the lone returnee being player of the year candidate Cassius Winston.
The good news is Izzo revealed that Langford will be eligible for a medical redshirt if he wants it, so he may get an extra season of college hoops in 2020-21.