Michigan State fifth-year senior guard Tyson Walker, who played the best basketball of his career early this season, has battled through a groin injury even more severe than some realize over the past several weeks.
That includes his head coach, Tom Izzo.
"The only mistake I made? I think the injury was a little bit more than I thought it was," Izzo said after the Spartans' 53-49 win over Northwestern on 'Senior Day' at the Breslin Center.
Walker has battled through that injury over much of the past two months, and but although it has impacted his offensive efficiency, the senior once again showed his ability to elevate his game and make winning plays late against the Wildcats.
After shooting just 3-of-14 through the game's first 24 and minutes, Walker came alive down the stretch. With the jumpshot not falling, the senior changed tactics, driving the lane and converting on four layups over the final 13 and half minutes. None were bigger than a tough finish in traffic with 2:30 left, which gave Michigan State a three-point lead and Walker his 2,000th career point.
In three seasons at Michigan State, Walker has scored 1,322 career points, moving him past Durrell Summers for 27th place on the school's all-time scoring list. The fifth-year season spent his first two collegiate seasons at Northeastern University, where he scored 680 points for the Huskies.
After the Spartans' win over Northwestern, Walker said he knew how many points he needed (17) to reach the career milestone, as MSU assistant coach Doug Wojcik countdown on the desk in his office.
"It means a lot," Walker said of the milestone. "Not too many people have it, especially with the other things that I have — the steals, the assists. So, it means a lot — that I can put the ball in the hole too."
Reflecting on his final game at the Breslin Center, Walker expressed his love for Michigan State and its fanbase, while also giving a bit of a recruiting pitch to any potential future Spartans.
"It don't even really feel like I transferred in," Walker said. "It's been three years now. I feel like I've been here forever, it feels like.
"I feel like this is the best place to play at. Every time when I start making shots and the crowd gets going, it doesn't get old. I tell all the freshman and sophomores that. When you have your moment, it's like the best feeling in the world."
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