Then junior guard Denzel Valentine talks with Coach Tom Izzo Mar. 13, 2015, during the game against Ohio State at the Big Ten Tournament at United Center in Chicago. The Spartans defeated the Buckeyes, 76-67. Kelsey Feldpausch/ The State News
Prior to the MSU men’s basketball team's first practice, head coach Tom Izzo announced sophomore guard Lourawls ‘Tum Tum’ Nairn Jr., senior forward Matt Costello and senior guard Denzel Valentine as the 2015-16 team captains.
Izzo said each year the captains are selected in a different fashion, but this year, the players voted.
“It was voted on this time," Izzo said. "You know every year I do it a little differently to be honest with you, and they all got a lot of votes but you know (Valentine) got every vote on the team. And I only say that because he should be the main man as far as a guy that has got to lead and play, and that goes with pressure, but that goes with a rank and they gave him the rank."
In the 2014-15 season, Valentine was the only Big Ten player to rank in the conference’s top 15 for scoring, rebounds and assists, according to Spartan Athletics. Valentine averaged 14.5 points per game, 6.3 rebounds per game and 4.3 assists per game.
Matt Costello currently ranks sixth in MSU history for career blocks with 104, according to Spartan Athletics. In the 2014-15 season, Costello averaged 7.0 points and 5.0 rebounds in 20.4 minutes per game.
Nairn is the first sophomore captain for the Spartans since Draymond Green in 2009-10. Nairn was the recipient of MSU's Stephen G. Scofes Inspirational Player Award this past season, according to Spartan Athletics. The Spartans were 13-4 with Nairn in the lineup this past season and he became the third Spartan freshman to start at point guard in the NCAA Tournament under Tom Izzo (Drew Neitzel, Kalin Lucas), and just the second in the Final Four, according to Spartan Athletics.
Izzo said Nairn has been working extremely hard this offseason and his teammates took note when choosing captains.
“Well I think that just speaks volumes of what kind of kid he is, not even what kind of player he is," Izzo said. "I just think he is an infectious kid. He is infectious in how he works, he is in infectious until 6:30 every day you think that would wear off. Austin Thornton goes, ‘I just can’t believe those two guys come in every morning.
“They voted because they appreciate that and they realize that he is infectious and that is what a captain should be is one that drags others with him.”
The Spartans first regular game of the season will be Nov. 13 against Florida Atlantic University.
“They’ve had a lot of energy and they’ve had a lot of extra work and now we have to put that together,” Izzo said.
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