Michigan State is unsure whether it’ll have Kyle Ahrens for Sunday’s game at Michigan, a possibility that threatens to deplete a thin Spartan lineup even further in their biggest game to date.

Ahrens was unable to practice Thursday after re-injuring his back in a series of collisions the night before in MSU’s win over Rutgers. Tom Izzo said he hoped Ahrens would be able to practice by Friday or Saturday prior to Sunday's trip to Ann Arbor.

“It’s just tough. We looked on film, he took some real good falls,” Izzo said. “… He says he thinks he can play. 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.’ So I don’t know what his is gonna be like.”

Ahrens’ stats be damned. MSU would just take warm, experienced bodies at this point. Rutgers was its first game without Nick Ward, its second starter to suffer a long-term injury, and the Spartans ended up losing another piece of their shrinking rotation.

MSU effectively played seven players against the Scarlet Knights, with four playing at least 33 minutes and Ahrens giving 20. Ahrens subbed out for the final time after committing an offensive foul with 2:54 on the clock. Izzo said Wednesday night Ahrens wasn’t fit to return during the game.

Ahrens has been working through on-again, off-again back pain since early January when he aggravated it on a dunk at Ohio State. He’s missed three games this season: at Penn State (Jan. 13), at Nebraska (Jan. 17) and at Purdue (Jan. 27).

“I know this: This kid has given me everything I could ask for,” Izzo said. “Most kids I’m not sure would be playing at all. He’s done it now for six, eight, 10 weeks. I’m just proud that he still plays as hard as he does. I still think he’s an important cog to the wheel, especially with all the people we’re missing.”

If Ahrens is unable to play against the Wolverines, freshman Gabe Brown would be the obvious candidate to absorb many of Ahrens’ minutes.

The first game of the MSU-Michigan rivalry tips off at 3:45 p.m. from Ann Arbor.

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