Spartan Hoopla: Michigan State's Kalin Lucas and Durrell Summers Return

OK. Breathe.

Durrell Summers isn't going anywhere . No NBA-Draft declaration. He's staying in East Lansing.

The same can be said be for Kalin "Too Easy" Lucas , too. Lucas' father, Ken, was quoted earlier in the week as saying "Kalin isn't going anywhere."

With a ruptured Achilles' tendon, Spartan fans took that decision for granted; but not Summers'.

The 6'4" former Redford Covenant-star's rocky relationship with head coach Tom Izzo had Michigan State basketball followers on the edge of their seats. According to Summers, Izzo "rode him hard." 

And It worked.

Summers had one of the best tournaments of any Spartan in recent memory. Except against the Butler Bulldogs.

After swallowing the pill that was the 52-50 Butler loss in the Final Four, the NBA-buzz surrounding Summers erupted.

The rumor was: Summers was going to skip out on his senior year.

East Lansing—collectively—went silent.

He was said to be a "bubble first-round pick," or a second-rounder. There were the pundits who said he would go undrafted, and that making the leap to the big leagues was not in his best interest.

Either Summers listened to the critics, or his friend and Spartan point-man Lucas had something to do with his choice. Usually, in cases like these, teammates, coaches, and family play a significant role in whether a college prospect jumps ship to the Association.

Now that the dust has settled, and the clouds have dissipated; Izzo can now chart a course for next year's installment of MSU hoops.

Michigan State will enter the 2010 season just as it did in 2009—highly ranked, and defending Big Ten champions .

The Spartans will return Lucas and Summers, and the rest of the cast will go unchanged. Draymond Green, Korie Lucious, and Delvon Roe will be back in green and white.

The missing piece to the puzzle is Raymar "Captain" Morgan. Izzo should have lobbied the NCAA for another year eligibility for the Canton, Ohio product.

A "do-over" for the Spartan forward.

Of course, that would never happen. With the additions of Michigan's Mr. Basketball Keith Appling, Adreian Payne, and Russell Byrd, the Spartans are in good shape for next year. Eaton Rapids' Alex Gauna could have a redshirt in his future, but that's nothing to worry about. Izzo has his awaiting position covered.

There are many factors that will come into play for another Final Four run. There always are.

With Lucas and Summers sitting tight for their fourth and final seasons under Izzo, the winds could blow a trip to Houston, Texas in Michigan State's direction.

As seen on Barking Carnival's "Sparty On" blog.