EAST LANSING – If Tum Tum Nairn is the accelerator, then Denzel Valentine is the steering wheel for Michigan State’s fast break.
Two different styles, one intended goal: to expedite the Spartans’ scoring in transition.
“The neat part would be if I could get Tum back a little bit more,” coach Tom Izzo said Tuesday. “Now you’d have kind of two — like you have an option quarterback and then the next play you’ve got a passing quarterback. (Opponents) have to cover people different. Nobody would feel as comfortable.”
There’s no secret that Izzo wants his guards to push the ball as quickly as possible.