Spartans’ Alvin Ellis ‘very questionable’ vs. Duke

Michigan State sophomore guard Alvin Ellis is “very questionable” for Tuesday night’s game against No. 4 Duke, coach Tom Izzo said today. Ellis sprained his right ankle in Friday’s season-opening 64-59 win at Navy.

Ellis twisted the ankle early in the game, after throwing a lob to Branden Dawson. Izzo said MSU will know more about Ellis this afternoon, but based on Sunday, he’d be extremely limited, at best, for the Champions Classic matchup at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis (7 p.m., ESPN).

That means that junior Bryn Forbes likely starts and might have to play heavy minutes again, despite a broken bone in his left hand. And it could mean more action for freshman point guard Lourawls (Tum Tum) Nairn and more perimeter time for Dawson. - Read more at Freep.com