Michigan State basketball has had an awful week, and it got worse on Friday afternoon. Head coach Tom Izzo officially announced that Divine Ugochukwu was going to miss the rest of the season, undergoing foot surgery for an injury that he suffered against Minnesota.
A sophomore and Miami (FL) transfer, Ugochukwu has surprised many this year, and even emerged as the starting shooting guard for this team. He had already had signature moments with his monstrous performance against Penn State, as well as his game-tying three against Rutgers. Unfortunately, that will be the extent of what he gives this season.
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Playing in 22 games this year, starting in 12, Ugochukwu averaged 5.1 points and 1.5 assists and 1.5 rebounds per game. He spent time playing both shooting guard, and acting as the backup point guard.
Now Michigan State will be tasked with replacing the production he brought for the rest of the season.
Here are three things that need to be addressed:
Shooting guard
Michigan State’s Divine Ugochukwu moves the ball agains tNorthwestern during the first half on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.
As mentioned before, Ugochukwu has started 12 games this year at the shooting guard position. Ironically enough, though, Jordon Scott had assumed the starting position for the Minnesota game, that will be something that likely continues.
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Ugochukwu is leaving roughly 12-14 minutes of shooting guard time up in the open, which will need to be assumed by other Spartans. Look to Scott to get even more of an increased role, but more importantly, Kur Teng and Trey Fort are going to have to get a major boost in minutes.
Teng is currently averaging 15 minutes per game, while Fort is at 10 minutes per game.
Backup PG
Jan 27, 2026; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Denham Wojcik (10) goes to the basket against Rutgers Scarlet Knights guard Harun Zrno (13) during the first half at Jersey Mike’s Arena. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Unfortunately, Jeremy Fears cannot play 40 minutes a game, it just would not work. Instead, the Spartans are going to need to get 5 to 7 minutes of backup point guard play from someone, now that Ugochukwu is out.
The obvious choice would be Denham Wojcik taking over the minutes, but there might be an alternative choice that could be more effective.
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Fort has experience playing as a backup point guard, having assumed those duties at Samford a year ago. While it would not be seamless, he does possess the ball handling skills and scoring ability to make it worth trying.
Aside from Fort, the Spartans could look to Scott to take over some duties at the backup spot.
3PT shooting
Michigan State’s Trey Fort moves the ball against Maryland during the second half on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.
Ugochukwu has been a 44% three-point shooter this year, and with Michigan State being a team that really struggles with three-point shooting, they are going to need to find production replacement there.
Like the rest of this piece, all roads lead back to Fort, who is someone the Spartans need to have step up in a massive way if they are going to seamlessly move on without the sophomore guard. Fort is shooting 33% this year, but has been on the better part of 36% over his entire career, and can certainly shoot the rock.
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Scott and Teng will continue to get more shots as a consequence, and both need to continue their three-point success in a more volume role.
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This article originally appeared on Spartans Wire: Three consequences of MSU basketball losing Divine Ugochukwu
