Michigan State Basketball: Gavin Schilling likely done for season
Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo said he’s ’99 percent’ sure that Gavin Schilling will miss the remainder of the 2016-17 season.
Just weeks before the season, news broke about a knee injury to Gavin Schilling. It wasn’t as serious as UNLV-transfer Ben Carter’s, but it would still keep the senior big man out of the rotation for a couple of months, it seemed.
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On Tuesday afternoon, Tom Izzo updated the situation, stating that he’s “99 percent” sure that Schilling will miss the rest of the season. He hasn’t been back on the floor doing any drills and it’s highly doubtful that he returns.
Izzo said no change on Gavin Schilling. Izzo said in his mind, "99 percent" he won't be back. Says it's "slim."
— Matt Charboneau (@mattcharboneau) January 17, 2017
Schilling was expected to be a main post presence and senior leader for the Spartans this season, but he has been stuck with more of a cheerleader/coaching role and will likely be back next season as a redshirt senior, depending on if he wants to stay with the Michigan State program.
Standing 6-foot-9 and weighing about 240 pounds, Schilling would be a nice complement to Nick Ward in the post and would cut into former walk-on Kenny Goins’ minutes. It would also have allowed Miles Bridges to play more on the wing instead of in the post. He averaged 3.8 points and 3.1 rebounds as a junior and was expecting to see that production double, at least.
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On another note, Izzo also said that Carter is definitely out for the season and he will apply for a sixth year of eligibility in the offseason. Whether or not either of these guys will stay with the MSU program remains to be seen.