Freshman forward Miles Bridges is out for at least "a couple weeks" with an ankle injury suffered in a loss against No. 5 Duke 78-69, head coach Tom Izzo said.
Against Duke, Bridges scored 11 points on 4-for-13 shooting with nine rebounds and 34 minutes played before fouling out. Currently, Bridges leads the Spartans in scoring, 16.6 points per game, and rebounds, 8.8 rebounds per game.
With the new void in rebounding, redshirt-sophomore Kenny Goins' rebounding role will be heightened, along with the entire team. Goins last year suffered a left knee injury against Indiana University, sidelining him for eight games.
"You have to trust in the trainers first off," Goins said. "As must as it affects you physically, the mental aspect can kill you just as much."
Goins said his advice to Bridges was to stay positive mentally because the team will be there to pick him up.
Team rebounding will be placed heavier on guards now as well. Freshman Joshua Langford will have to do his part in boxing out.
"It was a big thing when he was here ... because that's what we're known for," Langford said.
His scoring void may be the toughest to overcome. His 16.6 points will have to be spread among guys like sophomore guard Matt McQuaid and fifth-year senior Eron Harris. Meanwhile, Bridges' starting role will be up for grabs. Players such as sophomore guard/forward Kyle Ahrens and senior Alvin Ellis III could be potential fillers until Bridges returns.
"I feel real bad for him because I know how much he loves this team and this program," McQuaid said. "We just have to do a real good job and pick him up and everybody has to step up now."
This season Bridges has received Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors twice.
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