Junior guard Travis Trice motions to the team Feb. 13, 2014, at Breslin Center. The Spartans defeated the Wildcats, 85-70. Julia Nagy/The State News
At six feet tall, junior guard Travis Trice is the shortest player on the MSU men’s basketball team, but that doesn’t mean he can’t try things that 6-foot-10 center Adreian Payne does regularly.
As practice came to an end Tuesday afternoon, Trice was surrounded by his coaches and teammates chanting “Trav! Trav!” as he tried to dunk an alley-oop.
He didn’t make it, but was quick to get back in line and back to work, along with the rest of his team.
Following the loss to Nebraska Sunday afternoon, head coach Tom Izzo said it was hard for the role players to jump into the starting lineup.
Trice, along with sophomore guard Denzel Valentine and redshirt freshman Kenny Kaminski, is among a group of players that have been in and out of the starting lineup for much of the season.
“To be honest with our team, I don’t think we have any strictly role players,” Trice said. “Through all the injuries, guys have got to step up at any minute.”
Trice has been in the starting five for the last three games after senior guard Keith Appling aggravated his sore wrist.
Trice has been able to limit turnovers while running the point in large part.
With Appling’s status for the rest of the regular season up in the air, Trice is in a precarious predicament.
But seeing his name in the first five means nothing to Trice.
“It doesn’t matter if you start or don’t start, it only matters if you let it bother you,” he said. “My mindset every game is do whatever you have to win and be aggressive. It’s only hard if you make it hard.”
Valentine has started the last 18 games for the Spartans, and averages nearly 30 minutes a game.
He’s the only player in the Big Ten to rank in the top ten in both rebounding and assists.
Throughout the year, Valentine has played everywhere from point guard to power forward, an ability he said can be can be confusing at times.
But, it also makes him important to the team and the offense, he said.
“Not many players can do that,” Valentine said. “It can be a little challenging, but that’s what I have to do for us to be successful.
“I’m glad I can step up to the challenge, and fill that role for us.”
Valentine isn’t new to the starting lineup — he was a true sixth man and played in all 36 games last season, starting 15 of them.
Kaminski is the epitome of a role player, a big guy who can come in and shoot with great accuracy.
He’s made nearly half of his three-pointers attempted.
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He also ranks third in the conference in three-point percentage and 12th in three-pointers made.
“A role player is someone who comes in and doesn’t seem like they’re coming off the bench,” Kaminski said. “I feel like I need to be the sixth starter. The biggest thing I try to do is act like a starter, play like a starter (and) don’t be a liability in any way.”
After junior forward Branden Dawson broke his hand in January, Kaminski was forced into the starting lineup on the biggest possible stage — against Michigan.
“How many guys can say their first game ever (as a starter) was on that big a stage?” Kaminski said. “It’s an absolute dream come true.
“My minutes increased and increased, then I finally got in the starting lineup. I just prepare for every game like it’s my last.”
