Busting Brackets
Fansided

Big Ten Basketball: 10 most polarizing figures in Michigan-Michigan State rivalry

By Joe Cook-Shugart

EAST LANSING, MI - JANUARY 13: Michigan Wolverines celebrates a teammates made basket from the bench during a 82-72 win over the Michigan State Spartans at Breslin Center on January 13, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - JANUARY 13: Michigan Wolverines celebrates a teammates made basket from the bench during a 82-72 win over the Michigan State Spartans at Breslin Center on January 13, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
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BOSTON, MA – DECEMBER 19: Denzel Valentine #45 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts against the Northeastern Huskies in the second half on December 19, 2015 at the Matthews Arena in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – DECEMBER 19: Denzel Valentine #45 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts against the Northeastern Huskies in the second half on December 19, 2015 at the Matthews Arena in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) /

5. Denzel Valentine

Another homegrown talent from Lansing Sexton High School, Zel was a two-time team captain and a four-year leader on the banks of the Red Cedar. As a junior, he led the Spartans to their most recent Final Four appearance (2015). During his senior season, he was honored as the National Player of the Year by The Associated Press, becoming the first player in Michigan State history to receive that award.

For those paying attention at home, a pattern should start evolving: the more talented you are and the longer you play and stay involved in the rivalry, the more polarizing you become. In his last four games in the rivalry, Valentine was 4-0 against Michigan. After graduation, he even managed to show up to cheer on his older brother (an assistant coach for the Ramblers) in a Loyola-Chicago shirt during their 2018 Final Four match-up against the Wolverines.

The one final thing he had going for him (or against him – depends on who you are talking with) is the fish-eating grin that he wore on his face so often. He was rather confident in himself and his abilities, and with good reason. However, a person’s facial expressions, whether contrived or innate, can often determine just how much they’re loved or hated by fans.

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