Kalin Lucas is Michigan State's answer to Dwight Freeney, it seems. The junior guard, too, has a bad ankle entering a game with rock-the-sporting-world implications.

Freeney played his defensive end role for the Indianapolis Colts in their Super Bowl loss to New Orleans. Will Lucas have backcourt impact tonight when the No. 10 Spartans (19-5), suddenly reeling after two straight losses, host No. 6 Purdue (19-3)?

Boiler coach Matt Painter figures Lucas will play and bring his 15.6 points, 3.96 assists and game-winning-shot mentality. With a healthy Lucas, Michigan State is 9-0 in the Big Ten. Without him it is 0-2.

“It doesn't change our preparation at all,” Painter said. “We'll prepare like he's there. If he's not, they have Korie Lucious. He's proved himself.”

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said Lucas is pushing to play.

“He's tough enough to play,” Izzo said. “It's whether he can cut. And the thing that worries me the most is conditioning. He's done almost nothing conditioning wise. He told me he'll try to play, but at what level we'll have to see.”

Purdue's five-game winning streak, combined with Michigan State's road losses to Wisconsin and Illinois last week, have restored the Big Ten race. The Spartans still lead at 9-2, although Wisconsin, Ohio State and Illinois are all 8-3. The Boilers are 7-3 and control their own destiny.

“We put ourselves in a good position because we won five straight, but we have some tough games left,” Painter said. “We need to keep our focus. We're getting ready to play one of the best teams in the country. We need to worry about ourselves and play harder and tougher.”

The Breslin Center is one of the Big Ten's most intimidating arenas with its Izzone student section that rings the court.

“I think we had the best, but Illinois and Wisconsin have done a great job with their student sections,” Izzo said. “We got a little fat and sassy, but we're making progress to getting it back there. We've got the best one down low in the league. It can be extremely intimidating.”

That doesn't worry Painter nearly as much as the Spartans do.

“You can talk about the environment, and they have one of the best in college basketball, but the thing you have to worry about is their fans have got something to cheer about. They've got a got a Hall of Fame coach. He's a guy who has won our league a handful of times. He's been to the Final Four a handful of times.

“It can be very challenging when it gets loud, but the real challenge is beating their players. I love their rebounding and toughness and how hard they play.”

Michigan State thrives with rebounding (No. 1 in the Big Ten) and full-throttle offense (No. 1 in scoring).

“If they can dominate you on the glass,” Painter said, “and get out on transition, you'll get beat by 30 points. If you can hold serve and battle them on the glass and be even or beat them on the boards and keep them out of transition, you have a chance.”