After the clock hit zeros in No. 2 MSU’s 81-54 victory over the Ohio State Buckeyes in the the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament Friday night, Carlton Valentine, father of MSU senior guard Denzel Valentine, stood to his feet and delivered a message to his son’s team. “Hey, focus baby!” Carlton shouted from his front row seat to MSU’s coaches and players. “Two more!” In a first glance at the box score of Friday night’s game, with another spectacular 19 point, nine rebound and eight assist game from Valentine, in addition to the 27-point victory, it appeared MSU had its way with the Buckeyes. However, several mental lapses in the first half was allowing Ohio State to stick around in the early going. And MSU head basketball coach Tom Izzo was having none of it, especially with it being one and done time. On consecutive dead ball situations in the first half, Izzo took Eron Harris and Valentine out of the game after each of them had made a mistake. But after taking a few moments to yell at his players and use it as a teaching moment, he subbed them right back into the game. “They know me,” Izzo said. “And I know them and I’m going to push them and once in a while they push me and that’s what I’ve enjoyed about them.” However, Izzo’s message is a message that’s well received, players said. Izzo knows a thing or two about March. After all, he’s coached seven teams to a Final Four. “He keeps you on your toes,” Harris said. “He’s going to make his team close to being perfect because he’s going to keep you accountable when you’re on the floor because you know you’re going to come out. But you’ve got to stay poised and you’ve got to stay confident when you’re on the floor. …
Continue Reading: MSU basketball remains focused through post season play
