Latest news on basketball injuries in the state of Michigan regarding Nick Ward and Kyle Ahrens

"I looked at her hand and she seemed fine to me," Izzo said. "I saw him running – he seemed to run pretty well. I've been on Nick for two and a half years to develop a right hand. Now, God has taken it in his. He will do it for me.

"But I enjoyed the way Nick handled this business. He has been very optimistic and very helpful to the youngest, so we are just crossing our fingers. I do not think anyone knows how long it will last, but we know the parameters of the sooner. Unfortunately, I'm not sure we know the settings of the last ones. But we continue to hope every day that he continues to get better. "

Izzo said the 6-foot-9-inch tall man weighing 245 pounds was hoping to lose some extra pounds while running while he was away. Ward joked about Monday, the day after his surgery.

"Run by raising all that stuff," he said about his rehabilitation program. "You never know, I could come back with a 6-pack or something. I'll be right handed now, a 6-pack – come back new and improved. "

The Spartans (22-5, 13-3 Big Ten) face the Wolverines (23-3, 12-3) at 3:45 pm. Sunday at the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor (CBS). This is the first of two matches between the two rivals in two weeks. The second leg will be held on March 9 at the Breslin Center. Teams tied for first place after Michigan defeated Minnesota on Thursday.

[ Tom Izzo explains why MSU’s matchup with U-M ‘means a little more’ this year ]

In their first game without Ward, the Spartans moved away from Rutgers for a 71-60 victory.

Kyle Ahrens of Michigan State goes to basket against Minnesota on Feb. 9 in East Lansing. (Photo11: Al Goldis, AP)

Ahrens hit hard on the floor during a call against him with 2:54 to play and did not return. Earlier, the junior made a difficult fall on a defensive foul.

"He did not even really walk (Thursday)," Izzo said of Ahrens. "You know, it's difficult. We watched the film and it took very good falls. So we will cross our fingers to be able to train with hope Saturday and play Sunday. He says he thinks he can play.

"The players always want to play. The head tells the body what to do, and sometimes the body says ok and sometimes the body says go to hell. "

Ahrens first hurt his back during MSU's victory at Ohio State on Jan. 5, before changing it three days later. The 6-6 swingman missed two victories on the road, came back against Maryland, then worsened it to Iowa on Jan. 24 and missed the Spartans' defeat at Purdue three days later.

In 24 games this season, including eight starts, Ahrens has averaged 5.5 points and 2.7 rebounds, 19 of 62 3-point attempts. He had two rebounds, four fouls and three turnovers in goal-perfect 20 minutes against Rutgers.

"I know this: this kid gave me everything I asked for," Izzo said. "I'm not sure most kids would play at all and he's been doing it now for 6, 8 or 10 weeks. I'm just proud that he's always playing as hard as he does. But I still think it's a big thing, especially with all the people we miss. "

[ Michigan State knows it must ‘lock in’ to face Michigan ]