Kalin Lucas Has His Smile Back: How the MSU PG Has Revived the Spartans

Flashback to March 2010.

Kalin Lucas is preparing to show the country that last year's unforgettable trip to the Final Four and National Runners-Up finish wasn't just a fluke.

What's in his way? A cocky, scrappy team from New Mexico State that is primed and ready to make Michigan State just another also-ran in the three-week dash that is the NCAA Tournament.

Even Jahmar Young, the talkative guard from NMSU was bold enough to say that he had "never heard" of the 2009 Big Ten Player of the Year.

We all remember what followed: Kalin Lucas battled and scored a career-high 25 points, leading the Spartans to a 70-67 win and into the round of 32. However another pesky team was on the horizon: the Maryland Terrapins.

The Spartans had little trouble with the 'Terps in the first half and Lucas led the Spartans with four points and six assists through the first 16 minutes.

Then, as unpredictable as the wind, the Achilles tendon of the Spartan "iron man" popped and snapped.

Spartan fans anxiously waited to hear the extent of the injury to their leader. But as the attention waned from the court, Maryland pulled the Spartans into dog fight as Greivis Vasquez willed Maryland from a 16-point deficit to take a one-point lead with six seconds left.

Even as Korie Lucious' last-second shot reverberated around the country, the Spartans knew their chances for a second consecutive Final Four were most decidedly diminished.

Their leader was gone.

Luckily for the Spartan faithful, Lucas' roommate Durrell Summers  and protege Korie Lucious picked up the slack and shot the Spartans into the Final Four, all while Kalin sat in his sweatsuit and crutches, trying to be of any assistance to his teammates.

November 2010

It had been 10 years since Michigan State had this much pre-season hype. Fresh of another memorable Tom Izzo Final Four run, the No. 2-ranked Spartans seemed poised and determined to finish off what had escaped them the previous two seasons.

Reports around Kalin Lucas all indicated that he would be ready to steer the ship as the season embarked. Little did we know, the waves kicked up as soon as the ship left the dock.

Just as soon as the season began with promise, the Spartans began treading water. Losses began to mount and questions poured from pundits across the country.

What was happening to this Spartan team? Why wasn't Kalin Lucas leading this team to the potential we all wanted and expected?

December 2010

The answer was in the very ankle that had led him to the praise and respect of his peers throughout basketball.

Ironically, the very thing that made Kalin Lucas a star, his incredible feet and quickness, were now impairing him and his team. The slashing, cutting, jumping, and sprinting  Spartan guard was missing.

Instead of being dipped into the river for immortality, as the ancient Achilles was, Lucas could see his health, his dreams and his career drowning.

As fans, we are guilty of being impatient. In today's society, with medical advances, we expect everything to be fixed, or a newer model put into its place.

Every day, we are reading stories of athletes who overcome reconstructive knee surgeries in only 12, eight, even six months.

Why wouldn't Lucas respond? Did he mess up during his recovery time? Spartans fans everywhere were getting restless and running out of time. 

January 2011

The Spartans have been deemed a failure. Bracketologists are having no problem leaving the Spartans out of the Big Dance.

Their run of 13 consecutive NCAA tournaments was nearing an end. The players doubted themselves, even Tom Izzo seemed dumbfounded and is quoted as saying, "I'm at a loss for words."

At 12-7, fresh of a loss to Purdue,the Spartans were in desperate need for a spark.

Having only regained the ability to dunk the basketball a couple weeks prior, fans could see that their star was pulling himself and his team out of the water and drying off in lightning speed.

In the very next game (a losing effort) against arch-rival Michigan, Kalin regained his dazzling speed and kept the Spartans in the game with 27 points.

However, now at 12-8, the Spartans needed a victory. Lucas and his Achilles were going to play a pivotal role.

February 2011

Since the Michigan game, Lucas has not stopped scoring. He has had four 20-point performances and has averaged 21.4 ppg over his last eight games.

Even Tom Izzo has noticed the motivation from his senior point guard saying, "Everything is coming together for him. If you watch, he's got a smile on his face."

Fresh off of back-to-back wins over Illinois and Minnesota, the Spartans seem to have a firm grasp on a spot in the NCAA tournament.

Currently projected between a 10 and 12 seed, there's not a team in the land that would want to see MSU as its first-round draw.

As for Kalin Lucas, it might have taken a while, but he's got his swagger, his quickness, and according to his coach, "his smile" back, and he's determined to leave his time with Michigan State on a positive note.

Who knows what March will bring? The Spartans may reach their potential and make another run at the Final Four. Or we may be subject to a perplexing loss and wondering what could have been?

Either way, Kalin Lucas and his Achilles have left an indelible mark on Michigan State basketball over the past year.

Hopefully, when his career is all said and done, fans will all agree that Lucas has earned his place at the MSU dinner table with a couple other famous point guards.

Slide over, Magic and Mateen, Kalin Lucas has earned himself a seat.