Tom Izzo shared some positive news Thursday night about one of the best role players Michigan State basketball has to offer.

The Hall of Fame head coach spoke to the media about Jase Richardson’s ankle injury suffered in the Samford win, which left some worried he would be out for an extended period of time, and he talked fans up. They feared Richardson may have suffered a severe ankle sprain – or possibly worse – and Izzo said Thursday that he would be fine on Maui.

Izzo reportedly kept Richardson out of Thursday’s practice as a precautionary measure, but “he should be good to go” as soon as they arrive in Hawaii for the Maui Invitational.

For a team that is still finding its identity and has shown that it is really good but just can’t get it together yet, losing Richardson would be fatal.

Freshman phenom and son of MSU legend Jason Richardson has been one of the most consistent players on the roster this season and has been a spark off the bench. In his first five games at the collegiate level, he scored at least eight points in four of them and averaged 8.4 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists while shooting 63 percent from the floor and 50 percent from deep shoots. He also only has one turnover per 104 minutes this year.

Luckily, it looks like Michigan State will get him back for Maui and the Spartans will need him with teams like North Carolina, Iowa State, UConn and Auburn in the field.

Hopefully this minor injury hasn’t affected his confidence, because that’s what he’s lost so far.