LSJ Blogs: Hey, Joe

'I think he's staying with us'

There comes a time, particularly after a month like this (the most turbulent month I've encountered on this Michigan State beat), when you get sick of coming up with words.

Good morning

Let's start with basketball. The Spartans say things are back on track after last night's win over Texas-Arlington. And the women host rival Michigan today at 2 p.m. -- still time to get out there today for those in the area.

MSU 87, Texas-Arlington 68

Kalin Lucas came off the bench for 16 points. Durrell Summers had 20. Chris Allen hit four triples. And the Spartans improved to 10-3 entering Saturday's Big Ten opener at Northwestern.

McNeill to Dantonio: "Wow"

"And he said 'Wow' back," Ruffin McNeill related of a Tuesday night conversation he had with Mark Dantonio.

All heck...

...breaks loose in Texas. Mike Leach is out, some of his former players are apparently happy about it, and the Alamo Bowl has become a prime-time human nature experiment.

On Lucas and Leach

The button has been pushed, publicly, and now we'll see how it works out for Kalin Lucas and Michigan State.

Izzo on Lucas, in full

MSU has two more captains, Draymond Green and Isaiah Dahlman, a decision Tom Izzo made a couple days ago. Meanwhile, junior captain Kalin Lucas is in timeout as of Tuesday afternoon.

Izzo lays it out for Lucas

Kalin Lucas did not practice today, as mandated by Tom Izzo, and Lucas' status for Wednesday's game and beyond is uncertain.

Freeman practicing with Spartans

For those who don't remember the name Corey Freeman, he was a heralded pass-rushing defensive end who signed with the 2009 class but was academically ineligible this season. He has done the work in the classroom and is taking part in bowl practices with the Spartans, MSU associate AD John Lewandowski confirmed Tuesday morning.

Can we rename it the Turmoil Bowl?

So which Alamo Bowl participant has more adversity to overcome? MSU, 14 players lighter than it was in late November? Or Texas Tech -- which will be playing without its head coach?