It's what led the Detroit Pistons to two Central Division titles and an NBA Championship.
The 'it' that is being referred to is the bench, the reserves, the guys that come into the game when the starters need a break or get into foul trouble.
But this year, while the Pistons' bench has been suspect, another bench has stepped up - the MSU bench. Senior guard Kelvin Torbert, senior guard Tim Bograkos, sophomore forward Delco Rowley, sophomore center Drew Naymick and freshman guard Drew Neitzel are helping the No. 15 MSU men's basketball team make a run toward another Big Ten title.
"I've been pretty pleased with the bench," MSU head coach Tom Izzo said.
Led by Torbert, the Spartans have, for the most part, dominated their opponents in bench scoring. MSU is averaging 23.8 points per game, while allowing its opponents only 13.7 points per game.
"Hopefully (we bring) energy and enthusiasm and hopefully a boost," Torbert said. "That's paid off for us a lot this year with the depth that we have on this team."
Torbert has averaged 11.3 points per game this season in 12 games, all off the bench.
"Torbert has done everything and then some in ways because he does some things he sees and some things you don't see," Izzo said.
Despite coming off the bench, Torbert has scored in double digits eight times this year and has led the team in assists once.
Coming into the game, usually when senior guard Chris Hill needs a break, is Neitzel.
He's averaging three points per game, including a career-high of eight points in games against Wisconsin-Green Bay and UCLA. He also recorded six assists in the Dec. 29 game against UNC-Asheville.
"I'd like to see a little more consistent scoring out of Drew," Izzo said.
"I think he's a good shooter and he's going to be able to give us that.
Although he is only a freshman, Neitzel knows how important having depth can be.
"We're a real deep team," Neitzel said. "We play nine or 10 guys every game. It's that second energy, so when we bring in our second heat, it's a big impact on the game, and hopefully we can get a little run going and increase our lead."
Neitzel and Bograkos have combined for 46 assists and 26 turnovers on the season.
One big goal of the bench is to bring energy to the game, something that Rowley says is a must.
"You've got to have a lot of energy off the bench," Rowley said. "We talk about it every game. We bring it up in the huddle, that we have to bring a lot of energy off the bench.
"Of course, the first team has to go out and play and perform and get us going. We have to go out and add to the fire that they bring out," he said.
"We can't make the same mistake that (the starters) are making if they are making mistakes."
However, there is always room for improvement.
"I'd like to get a little more consistent play out of the forwards," Izzo said.
