Michigan State's Denzel Valentine eyes return for this weekend

By foxsports
Published

Michigan State may have its top player back this weekend.

According to Kyle Austin of MLive.com, senior wing Denzel Valentine is aiming for a return to the court this Sunday against Penn State.

The 6-foot-6 Valentine is averaging 18.5 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.1 assists per game, leading the Spartans to the best start in school history and the No. 1 ranking in the AP poll before he went down with a knee injury. Valentine has been sidelined since Dec. 21 after injuring his left knee which required a mild arthroscopic procedure

Valentine's value to Michigan State has become even more apparent over the course of the past three games.

In their first game without Valentine, the Spartans needed overtime to hold off Kay Felder and Oakland. The Spartans were then handed their first loss of the season in the Big Ten opener at Iowa. On Saturday, Michigan State defeated a sub-.500 Minnesota team by eight. 

Michigan State hosts Illinois in its conference home opener on Thursday night.

(h/t MLive.com)

"Hopefully Sunday," Valentine said. "If I feel good in practice I might try to play Thursday though. It's going to be either this week or next week."