Michigan State Loses Divine Ugochukwu for the Season with Foot Injury
Michigan State just took a tough hit to its backcourt depth - and it couldn’t have come at a worse time.
Head coach Tom Izzo confirmed Friday that combo guard Divine Ugochukwu will miss the remainder of the season and undergo surgery next week on his injured left foot. The injury occurred during the first half of the Spartans’ narrow 76-73 road loss to Minnesota on Wednesday night.
It’s a disappointing end to what had been a promising first season in East Lansing for Ugochukwu, a 6-foot-3 transfer from Miami (Florida). In 22 games, he carved out a key role in MSU’s rotation, averaging 5.1 points per game while knocking down an impressive 44.2% of his shots from beyond the arc. He started 12 games and brought a steady mix of scoring and floor spacing to the Spartans’ backcourt.
Ugochukwu’s breakout moment came on December 13 against Penn State. Thrust into the starting lineup for the first time, he responded with a career-high 23 points on 8-of-10 shooting - a performance that helped Michigan State escape with a win and firmly planted him in the rotation. From that point forward, he started 11 straight games, playing both alongside and behind freshman point guard Jeremy Fears Jr.
His value wasn’t just in scoring. Ugochukwu also had a knack for showing up in big moments.
Case in point: his clutch game-tying shot against Rutgers on January 27, a reminder of the calm and confidence he brought to the floor. But just days later, he was moved to the bench in favor of freshman Jordan Scott against Minnesota - and then came the injury that ended his season.
With Ugochukwu now sidelined, the Spartans’ depth chart at point guard gets thin in a hurry. Izzo is left with just two true point guards: Fears and Harvard transfer Denham Wojcik.
That likely means some creative lineup adjustments moving forward, especially with No. 6 Illinois coming to town Saturday night in a marquee Big Ten showdown at Breslin Center.
Izzo acknowledged the challenge and said the injury opens the door for more minutes - and more responsibility - for Scott and senior transfer Trey Fort. Both guards now have a chance to step into larger roles as Michigan State (19-4, 9-3 Big Ten) continues its push toward a conference title and postseason momentum.
This isn’t the first time the Spartans have had to adjust on the fly this season. Ugochukwu is the second offseason transfer addition to suffer a season-ending injury. Forward Kaleb Glenn, who’s been recovering from his own setback, has returned to practice but will redshirt this season to continue his rehab, Izzo reaffirmed Friday.
With the regular season heating up and March looming, Michigan State will need to find answers quickly. Losing Ugochukwu is a blow, no doubt - but Izzo’s teams are known for their resilience. Now it’s up to the next group of Spartans to rise to the challenge.