It’s no secret that Neitzel and Travis Walton are the team leaders — they have played in big-game situations as deep as the Final Four just two years ago.

Not to mention, this year, the two co-captains’ assist-to-turnover ratios are unbelievable — they really are making other players on the team better.

Izzo has even said that when Neitzel is playing at the top of his game, so is the rest of his squad. He admitted that his bigs don’t need to shine for MSU to be great.

It’s not about that.

If the guards aren’t clicking, the big guys aren’t clicking. If Neitzel, Kalin Lucas or Chris Allen’s shots aren’t falling, Goran Suton, Drew Naymick and Marquise Gray will need to take more shots.

And although some guys have stepped up huge, it doesn’t mean that’s going to just keep happening consistently.

The guards’ confidence needs to thrive in every game.

When the Spartans need a big shot with 6.3 seconds left on the clock, who do you think will have the basketball in his hands?

A guard, that’s who.

Sean Ely is a State News men’s basketball reporter. He can be reached at elysean@msu.edu.