Young will make debut against MSU

Senior forward Kevin Young is expected to make his debut against Michigan State on Tuesday.

"Yea, Kevin should play," Kansas head coach Bill Self said on Sunday afternoon. "He practiced yesterday (Saturday), so unless he has a setback, I don't see any reason why he wouldn't be playing. This sounds weird, but he's our best talker.

"He can direct traffic from talking," he added. "We're the quietest team, and that's going to get us beat, just how quiet we are. But he's our best talker and he's also the most active. Physically, he only weighs 210-pounds, or whatever, but still through, he tries so hard."

Young, the 6-foot-8, 210-pound forward from Perris, Calif., missed both exhibition games, as well as KU's season opening against Southeast Missouri State after breaking a bone in his right hand in late October.

Following the injury, Self indicated Young would miss the season opener, but unless he experienced a setback, would return in time for KU's highly anticipated showdown against No. 14 ranked Michigan State.

Having returned to practice on Saturday, Young is ready to make his season debut against the Spartans.

"Yea, I'm back," said Young. "I practiced yesterday and I felt pretty good. The thing for me is just feeling comfortable with this glove on. That's the biggest thing, and that's probably it and make sure it doesn't get hit.

"Yea, I do," he added when asked if he anticipates playing on Tuesday.

Landen Lucas still expected to redshirt

When asked about freshman big man Landen Lucas, Self said he still expects the 6-foot-10, 240-pound center from Portland, Ore., to redshirt this season. While a final decision hasn't been made, barring an unforeseen injury to one of KU's frontcourt players, Lucas won't see any game action this year, but will continue to practice with the team.