Junior guard Korie Lucious has been dismissed from the Michigan State basketball team for what Tom Izzo called "conduct detrimental to the program." Lucious' dismissal was announced late Tuesday night, just two days before the Spartans host Michigan at the Breslin Center.
Below is Izzo's brief statement on the decision to remove Lucious from the team.
"Unfortunately, Korie Lucious displayed conduct detrimental to the program. My focus is on this team for the remainder of the season."
The statement released by MSU says that Lucious has been dismissed for the rest of the season, seemingly leaving the door open to a possible return next season. Nothing explicit is mentioned about a possible return, but the door was not closed, either.
On Twitter shortly before the release went out, Lucious said, "Man did I really mess up this time." In the prepared statement, this was his comment:
"I didn’t live up to the standards of the program. Unfortunately, I let my teammates, my coaches, and myself down, and wish them the best for the rest of the season."
Lucious' 2010-11 season got off to a rough start, as he was suspended two games (one regular season contest and one exhibition) for being arrested for drunk driving. The charge was later reduced to reckless driving, but Izzo still suspended him. Also, Lucious had to have knee surgery in September, further adding to a rough beginning to the 2010-11 season. Things have obviously ended pretty roughly for Lucious as well, as he is now off the team for at least the rest of this season.