Tom Izzo sat in his hotel room last week and Cleveland and watched.

On one hand, he breathed a monstrous sigh of relief when LeBron James opted to leave the Cavs and head for South Beach. However, that was trumped by another feeling.

``I felt bad,” said the Michigan State coach, who spurned Cavs owner Dan Gilbert’s lucrative offer to coach the team. ``I felt bad for the city, I felt bad for the people, I felt bad for Dan Gilbert and I even felt bad for LeBron.”

Now Izzo has directed his complete attention back to Michigan State – a team that clearly overachieved last season with a Final Four appearance despite playing much of the NCAA tournament without starting point guard Kalin Lucas.

Izzo said Lucas, who ruptured his Achilles, has just begun jogging and is expected to be back for the start of the season barring a setback. However, Izzo knows it may take time for Lucas to return to form.

``In basketball, being out for five months, it doesn’t just come right back,” Izzo said.

Izzo’s walking wounded also includes incoming freshman Adreian Payne – who had surgery for a separated shoulder following the year. Izzo said the rehab certainly won’t help Payne and his acclimation since one area he clearly needs is strength.

Delvon Roe had surgery on his meniscus a couple weeks after the season and he’s recently begun to go “full-blown”.

``He’s key for us,” Izzo said. ``We could go from really good to great if he can get back healthy.”

Izzo also mentioned that Chris Allen remains a part of the program at this time.

MARSHALL’S HERRION ADDS TO CLASS

New Marshall coach Tom Herrion has been busy since getting the job.

Herrion has brought in a pair of transfers – Oklahoma big man Orlando Allen and N.C. State wing Johnny Thomas – who will likely be able to play immediately. Allen will have one year left while Thomas graduated in three years and has two years left of eligibility since he redshirted.

Herrion also signed 6-foot-10 junior college big man Aundra Williams, St. Frances Academy (Md.) guard Dante Holmes and former New Mexico State guard Johnny Higgins – who spent last season at a junior college in Texas.

Marshall will also bring in 7-foot-2 Youssoupha Mbao, who will sit out after transferring in from Marquette – and St. Benedict’s and Canadian big man J.P. Kambola, who will come in as a non-qualifier and sit out this year

RANDOM NOTES: Former UConn guard Doug Wiggins has landed, per the Hartford Courant, at Mountain State. … According to sources, Wichita State freshman guard Kenny Manigault has transferred to The Citadel. … Quinnipiac has added Vermont sophomore guard Garvey Young. … Ex-UMass guard David Gibbs is headed to Newberry College in South Carolina. … Want a player to watch this season that you’ve probably never heard of?  Nevada’s Devonte Elliott, who didn’t qualify out of high school a year ago, is expected to be cleared by the NCAA to play for the Wolf Pack this season. Elliott has grown to 6-foot-10 and has a chance to be special.