Gavin Schilling knee injury adds to Michigan State's big man concerns

EAST LANSING – Gavin Schilling is out before the season even started, and Michigan State’s already-thin frontcourt continues to be decimated by injuries.

The senior forward suffered a non-contact injury to his right knee during Friday’s practice before the Spartans’ preseason kickoff event at Breslin Center, the school said in a release late this afternoon. There is no timetable for his return, but he will require surgery.

“This is certainly an unfortunate setback for Gavin, as he had been practicing very well,” MSU coach Tom Izzo said in a statement. “He had an incredible summer and was in excellent shape as he was ready to make his senior season the best one yet.”

The Spartans will hold their annual media day Thursday.

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Izzo said last Thursday at Big Ten media day that the 6-foot-9, 240-pound Schilling was one of the players he was counting on to start for a young MSU squad this season. The Chicago native had a strong summer a year ago before turf toe forced him out of the Spartans’ first 11 games of the season. He lost a potential starting job to Matt Costello and never returned to the same form, averaging 3.8 points and 3.1 rebounds a game in just 12.5 minutes.

Schilling also played in MSU’s final 24 games, despite also battling a bulging disc in his back late in the season.

It’s the second significant injury to an MSU big man during preseason practices. Ben Carter, a graduate transfer from UNLV, suffered a second left knee injury this year earlier this month underwent surgery last week. The injury occurred when he landed awkwardly after contesting a shot, and there is no timetable for his return.

Izzo brought the 6-foot-9, 225-pound Las Vegas native Carter to MSU after losing Deyonta Davis to the NBA and Marvin Clark and Javon Bess to transfer after last season.

Freshmen Miles Bridges (6-7) and Nick Ward (6-8) are the only players left on MSU’s active roster taller than 6-5 who are not hurt. Sophomore Kenny Goins is coming off knee surgery, and Izzo said last week that he is just returning to practice and still dealing with soreness. The Spartans’ only other forward is 6-5 senior Matt Van Dyk, a former walk-on put on scholarship this season. Izzo said last week that guard Kyle Ahrens (6-5) also has been working at power forward.

Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrissolari.

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