Scout team boosted by familiar face

EAST LANSING - He's back, but Travis Walton knows his place. He'll stay in the basement at Tom Izzo's house.

And he'll stay in the background when leadership is required for the Michigan State team that now counts Walton as a student assistant.

"You've got to, because it's their team," said Walton, a three-time captain at MSU. "You've got to let them grow into themselves and let them lead in their own way."

That doesn't mean Walton won't suggest things to the Spartans' quartet of captains. It doesn't mean he won't scream and yell in practice. It certainly doesn't mean he'll take it easy on MSU's regulars when he's badgering them as a member of the scout team.

"He'll get in your face, now. And he's gonna check you," MSU sophomore captain Draymond Green said of Walton. "I think it's only gonna help our point guards out even more. I still don't think there's a defender in the Big Ten like Travis. Last year he was playing on the Green team with us, now he's playing on the White (scout) team and defending."

After thinking it over and talking it over with Izzo, Walton has decided to return to school to finish his degree in family community services. He needs nine credits - classes in statistics, theater and history.

He played on a pro team in Lugano, Switzerland in the fall, but Walton's scholarship is good through this academic year. By helping MSU in practice, Walton can stay in shape and work on his game in preparation for a return to pro ball overseas next fall.

And when his playing career is done, Walton will have the degree he needs to get right into coaching. Izzo has said often that Walton has a future in coaching and a spot reserved on Izzo's bench.

After Walton helped MSU reach the NCAA title game as a senior last season, Izzo said he was one of the program's all-time best leaders - joining Earvin "Magic" Johnson and Mateen Cleaves.

Now MSU gets some bonus time with Walton, which will only serve to intensify practices.

"Our scout team has always been the secret power of Michigan State, so I want to help them out some more," Walton said. "This is the best thing that could have happened to me."

By the way, Walton will soon move out of Izzo's basement and into his own apartment.

FEELING OK: Green practiced Thursday and looked fine on the right knee that he injured slightly in Tuesday's 57-56 win at Michigan. He wore a brace, then discarded that in favor of a less-bulky sleeve.

Green said the knee is merely "tweaked" and that he'll be fine for Saturday's game vs. Northwestern. The knee buckled under his body in the second half Tuesday, but he was able to return to the game a few moments later.

SCORCHING: Senior forward Raymar Morgan is going for his fifth straight big game Saturday. Over the past four, he is averaging 16.8 points a game - making 28 of 36 shots (77.8 percent).

"My confidence is just really high right now," Morgan said Thursday. "I've been in the gym a little bit more, working on my jump shot. Coach (Mike Garland) is telling me to just keep shooting and that's what I'm doing."

CAN'T FORGET: The Spartans remember well Northwestern's shocking victory in Breslin Center a year ago - the Wildcats' first win in East Lansing in 25 years.

In case anyone wanted to forget it, the Big Ten Network doesn't make it easy. A commercial recapping the upset has been seen countless times on the network. Kevin Coble's tough fadeaway bank shot over Walton is featured prominently.

"They watch it every day on the Big Ten (Network)," Walton said of the Spartans. "It's a commercial. 'This is where amazing happens.'"