The Buckeyes proceeded to go on a run, turning a 33-24 halftime deficit into a 49-47 lead with 5:22 to play. 

“Smartest player I have on this team is Valentine," Izzo said during his press conference on Monday. "And some of the more unwise fouls that we’ve had this year are his."

The foul was Valentine's last of the game, but the result was clear — Valentine has to learn to avoid "throw-away fouls" to give the Spartans their best shot at victory.

"Like there is one he showed me on film where he didn’t think he fouled him at all but I’m watching from the bench and I’m calling the foul," Izzo said. "It’s the one underneath that got him his third. I say you just can’t put yourself in that position."

Valentine's foul trouble prevented him from defending standout freshman guard D'Angelo Russell at the beginning of the game, with Izzo giving the assignment to freshman guard Lourawls Nairn instead. 

"(Valentine) begged me to start himself on Russell, which I really loved," Izzo said. "He wants to take those challenges the only reason I didn’t is because of that exact reason.”

Valentine showed progress on Saturday by making his third foul his last. MSU's season could ride on Valentine making continued progress on the defensive end. 

"I try to the best I can, but I just get a little too aggressive at times, especially on the defensive end," Valentine said. "I just got to find that fine line between being too aggressive and being aggressive. Just watching film and listening to coach and feeling the game out I should be able to figure it out."