MSU's Dawson: "I'm two months ahead of schedule"

Michigan State's Branden Dawson gave Spartan basketball fans reason to be excited Sunday afternoon, tweeting the following: "Just receive good news from the Doc. He says I'm two months ahead of schedule." Dawson, a talented, tough and athletic freshman, tore his left ACL on March 4. See the tweet in this post and watch one of Dawson's best highlights from his freshman campaign right now.

https://twitter.com/#!/219MadeMe/status/191629298753470465

Take the tweet for what it is: A young man excited about receiving good news. It doesn't mean much right now, considering it's April and Dawson still has months of recovery ahead of himself. But it's better than the alternative. More important, with the average recovery time from ACL surgery ranging anywhere from six-to-nine months, it sure looks like Dawson could be ready to go when the season tips in November — assuming there are no setbacks, of course.

Dawson shot 57 percent and averaged 8.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, 0.9 steals and 0.8 blocks in 31 starts as a freshman. If healthy, he'll be a huge part of Michigan State's attack in 2012-13. In Dawson, Derrick Nix and Adreian Payne, the Spartans figure to boast one of the deepest and most impressive frontlines in the nation.

Brent Yarina is a web editor and blogger for BTN.com. Find all of his work here and follow him on twitter at @BTNBrentYarina.