Lucas tore his Achilles tendon during the second round of last year’s NCAA basketball tournament.

The guard said that he likely would be somewhere else this year playing professional basketball had it not been for the injury.

He said that there are a lot of expectations for the Spartans and for himself in his senior year.

Lucas has been working hard on rehabbing his injury and working his way back into playing shape.

One of the big reasons Izzo turned down the job is that he was never able to speak with LeBron James.

Before taking the job, Izzo would want to make sure that he would have the opportunity to coach James.

Instead of coaching superstars in the NBA, Izzo will return to developing them at the college level.

Izzo said that the decision was a life choice, meaning he will not be entertaining any other offers in the future. 

Izzo told his Michigan State players that he’s still undecided. On Thursday, he flew to Cleveland to meet with the Cavs, a meeting that lasted several hours. It was reported that the meeting was more like a recruiting visit for him and his family than anything else. Izzo has been tempted by NBA offers in the past but dismissed them relatively quickly, another sign that he’s taking this offer far more seriously.

Izzo had said in the past that he wouldn’t consider leaving East Lansing until he won another national championship. The team he’s returning this coming season looks to give him his best opportunity. The Spartans are sure to be ranked in the top five in the preseason, returning Big 10 player of the year Kailin Lucas along with Draymond Green and other significant contributors.

But a contract offer from the Cavs that will pay him $3 million more per year than he makes at Michigan State is enough to give the offer some serious thought. And with a long history of college coaches leaving for the NBA to get paid, only to return to college after it didn’t work out, Izzo could surely do the same and ensure his and his family’s financial well-being.

A report claims that the Cavaliers are willing to offer Izzo $6 million per year over five years.

Izzo makes a little over $3 million per year with the Spartans, so it would be a significant raise.

The coach has said previously that he is not interested in the NBA, but he has left the door open to make the leap.

The Cavaliers say they have also contacted a number of other coaches, so they aren’t only after Izzo.

Izzo’s name has popped up on the NBA radar screen more than once in the past, but he has never made a move.

The Cleveland job isn’t all that far from his home in East Lansing, which would make it less of an adjustment.

That said, Izzo has already laughed off any speculation he will make a jump to the NBA.

He has made it perfectly clear he is happy with the Spartans and that Cavaliers owner Daniel Gilbert hasn’t been ringing his phone off the hook.

Lucious, an unheralded guard during the regular season, took to the spotlight in the NCAA tournament.

Because of injuries to both Kalin Lucas and Chris Allen, Lucious took over the point guard role and flourished.

He hit a huge, game-winning shot to beat the Maryland Terrapins to advance to the Sweet 16 and helped lead the Spartans to the Final Four.

The guard wants significant playing time but knows he will be stuck behind Lucas at the point guard position.

The announcement instantly pushes the Spartans up high in the rankings and raises hopes of another national championship in Lansing.

Summers, who was a solid player but nothing special, came out of nowhere to become one of the best players in the NCAA tournament this year.

Lucas had been widely regarded as one of the top point guards in the country but missed the end of the team’s tournament run because of a torn ACL.

The point guard is working hard to rehab the injury and is hopeful that he will be 100 percent in time for the start of basketball practice next fall.

In a game that started out with both teams firing away from three-point range, defense was the name of the game in the second half.

Both teams struggled to put the ball in the basket, although credit must go to the work on the defensive end.

The Spartans had plenty of opportunities to grab the lead, but lady luck finally ran out on them.

Despite the loss, Michigan State has to be excited about next year since they will lose just Raymar Morgan.

Michigan State fell short in all three categories, and as a result, its season is over.

The Butler Bulldogs defeated the Spartans in a sloppy, bogged-down game, using solid defense and free throw shooting en route to a 52-50 win in the Final Four.

Butler successfully controlled the pace of the game and despite going without a field goal for 10+ minutes in the second half, held off every Michigan State rally. Butler shot just 30 percent for the game, but forced 16 turnovers while committing just eight, grabbed four more offensive rebounds, and make seven more free throws.

The Spartans had their chances to seize the game late, but down one with seconds remaining, Draymond Green’s layup came up short. And then down three with two seconds left and at the free throw line, an intentionally-missed second attempt was secured by Butler to seal the victory.

Michigan State had a remarkable run to the Final Four, given all its injuries. But losing a game like this one, that was its for the taking, will certainly leave a sour taste in its mouth.

In fact, the Ducks are set to offer Izzo the biggest contract ever given to a college basketball head coach.

Oregon is set to move into a new $200 million arena and has the backing of Nike founder Phi Knight.

Knight has made it clear that he wants a big-time name to put their stamp on the Oregon basketball program.

Izzo said that he hasn’t heard from anyone yet but that he is perfectly happy at Michigan State.