Busting Brackets
Fansided

Who are the Five National Player of the Year Candidates Now?

By Matt Johnson

Mar 25, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; General view of game balls and court for the North Carolina Tar Heels practice before the semifinal of the west regional at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 25, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; General view of game balls and court for the North Carolina Tar Heels practice before the semifinal of the west regional at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 6
Next
Jan 31, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Denzel Valentine (45) gestures to the sidelines during the first half of a game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 31, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Denzel Valentine (45) gestures to the sidelines during the first half of a game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Denzel Valentine, Michigan State

Valentine embodies the Spartan-system under coach Tom Izzo. Neither flashy nor glamorous, the 6-foot-5 Lansing, Mich. native is simply cold-hearted and efficient.

Valentine is averaging 18.5 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.1 assists per contest in helping Michigan State to a 15-1 record. As the numbers indicate, he does a little bit of everything each night.

Live Feed

Michigan State football: 5 candidates to replace Mel Tucker as head coach
Michigan State football: 5 candidates to replace Mel Tucker as head coach /

Spartan Avenue

  • Michigan State football: 3 not-so-quick takes from rewatching Washington loss Spartan Avenue
  • Maryland vs. Michigan State Prediction, Odds, Trends and Key Players for College Football Week 4 Betsided
  • Michigan State Football: Revisiting Week 3 goals vs. Washington Spartan Avenue
  • Biggest winners and losers from College Football Week 3 Saturday Blitz
  • Michigan State vs. Washington: How to watch, odds, injuries, weather, prediction Spartan Avenue

    • While the senior has missed the last four games due to left knee surgery, there is little doubt the Spartans are a better team when Valentine is on the court. Their only loss, an 83-70 defeat to Iowa on Dec. 29, took place without him in the lineup.

    Michigan State is a perfect 12-0 when Valentine is available, including a 79-73 win over Kansas on Nov. 17. All he did in that game was net 29 points and grab 12 rebounds.

    Against Louisville a few weeks later, Valentine was stellar yet again, scoring 25 points and dishing out seven assists.

    In both contests, the Spartans rallied from halftime deficits to pull out victories. It’s no coincidence Valentine served as the catalyst on each occasion.

    The only question is how quickly Valentine can regain his touch following the four-game layoff. If he returns to previous form in a hurry, the Spartans may have a future player of the year in their midst.

    Next: Grayson Allen

    Home/NCAA Basketball News