In an emotional surprise press conference Tuesday afternoon, Izzo announced that senior guard Josh Langford re-injured his foot that kept him out for the majority of last season and will be re-evaluated in January.

Izzo said in his statement that Monday was a day of highs and lows. After learning that his Spartan team would be the first to be ranked No. 1, he had a meeting with doctors where they came to the conclusion that Langford would have to take time off again, due to an injury in the same foot he had surgery on last year.

"At seven o'clock last night, I had the hardest part of my job. I had to sit down with Josh Langford and doctors and find out that he has resurfaced the problem in his foot, and he will be reevaluated in January," Izzo said.

"The kid has been the most selfless, greatest attitude, commited kid. He didn't miss a practice last year, didn't miss a trip, set back has been for the last two seasons and to be honest with you it's one of those weird things that breaks my heart."

The blow to the Spartans' lineup goes beyond basketball for the team. Langford has given everything he has been able to give to the program, which is what has impacted Izzo the most.

"I love Josh Langford. He's one of those guys that has given me everything on the court, off the court, in the classroom. Like almost nobody I've had. He's handled everything a lot better than I would've handled and now my job is to support him everyway I can," Izzo said.

There isn't much that is known about the injury, besides that it is a setback, that will be reevaluated in January.

"Don't have a ton of information. It's still in his ankle, there's a little spot that... I don't know if it's the stress of the first one that makes it react a little differently, but I don't see this as anything that is going to change his life in anyway later on, but right now it's going to set him back, and we are going to reevaluate everything in January. See where he is, see where we are," Izzo said.

"It is a big loss, after a tremendous high at two o'clock, practice, and kind of a tremendous low at seven o'clock."

Langford appeared in 13 games last season for the Spartans before leaving MSU's game against Northern Illinois on Dec. 29. He missed Michigan State's final 26 games.

Izzo also said that Langford's backup, redshirt senior Kyle Ahrens sprained his ankle in Michigan State's secret scrimmage against Gonzaga and will be out for a week.

The Spartans open the season two weeks from today against No. 2 Kentucky in the Champions Classic (9:30 p.m., ESPN).

This story will be updated.