Unfortunately for Izzo, that list of patients may be growing, as junior forward Branden Dawson simply hasn’t been feeling himself as of late.

“He was pretty upset after (the Minnesota) game and just didn’t feel like he had any energy, and I felt that way about him before,” Izzo said. “He felt he was giving energy or had energy (during the game). He was the one that came to me in my office after the game.”

Izzo went on to say Dawson underwent tests for mononucleosis, a viral disease that knocked out Costello, who is Dawson’s roommate, for the better half of December. At the time of the press conference the results have not come back, and Izzo said they will continue to perform tests throughout the day to pinpoint what the supposed illness is.

As for Payne, Izzo said they will take the same route they did with sophomore guard Gary Harris when he had a sprained ankle and not play him until he is as close to full strength as possible.

“We’re going to make it so (his foot is) 100 percent,” Izzo said. “If we don’t have to play him, we’re going to do it like Gary Harris — he doesn’t play this week or next week. We gotta get him to 100 percent. I gotta look at the big picture for him and the big picture for us.”

The ailing foot has been an issue for most of the season, as he originally played through plantar fasciitis on the same foot, and in correlation with getting Payne healthy Izzo listed him as “questionable” for Wednesday’s game at Northwestern. As far as moving the injury report to “doubtful” status, Izzo said he wasn’t ready to jump to that conclusion.

“You know, I’m not a medical guy,” Izzo said. “I was 98 percent sure he wouldn’t play in the Ohio State game but it all depends how these days goes here. If he starts getting pain free and he really starts improving then I’d say he’s questionable, if not then he’s 98 percent more than doubtful.”