Couch: Trice, Valentine must understand their roles

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Denzel Valentine and Travis Trice might not be capable of carrying Michigan State past a team like Maryland on the road.

They at least need to understand that's their role.

The Terrapins' 75-59 whipping of the Spartans Saturday was a telling example of MSU's limitations against an opponent with talent and length in a hostile atmosphere.

The locker room afterward told of a group that didn't completely comprehend how it should have countered Maryland's frenzied perimeter defense.

"My man was really staying with me," Trice said after a five-point, four-turnover performance. "That's why I didn't really want to force it. That's when it's other guys' days offensively."

Not entirely.

"We can't just go, 'Trav, Zel, go win us a game,'" center Matt Costello said.

Actually, Matt, you can.

"Everybody has to pick up their part," Costello continued.

And to some extent Saturday they did.

Everyone other than MSU's two leading men, its veteran backcourt.

The roles of Trice and Valentine are no longer as role players. To win games like this, to push for a Big Ten title, to be something other than a one-weekend NCAA tournament team, Trice and Valentine have to insist on getting their offense — when needed — at almost any cost.

They played Saturday like the complementary pieces they were last season — fading in and out at their convenience.

"I thought Javon Bess competed better than everybody on our team, which is disturbing and upsetting," MSU coach Tom Izzo said.

That's Izzo talking about and to his two captains.

Trice attempted eight shots and made two. Valentine tried nine and hit four. Neither attempted a free throw.

That can't happen.

The problem for Trice is he is essentially a role player — perfect as a clutch shooter, a calming ball-handler, an experienced voice. He is a savvy veteran of numerous big games, and a nice guy.

He is not someone who can athletically dominate a player such as Maryland freshman Melo Trimble — three inches taller, 20 pounds heavier and perhaps also quicker.

But he can't stop trying.

MSU is a team that relies heavily on 3-point shooting and Maryland took that away, chased the Spartans off the 3-point line more effectively than anyone else who's tried.

The counter, as Trice said, is to go inside. "That is the only counter," he said.

MSU didn't do that enough, either — after an early sweeping hook shot by Gavin Schilling. That's up to Trice and Valentine, too.

"It's hard when you need a bucket and you've got to work extremely hard to get one," Trice said.

Yep. Keep attacking anyway. Keeping fighting for buckets or contact.

Valentine, too.

"They scouted us pretty good," Valentine said. "They knew what we were going to do offensively."

Neither Valentine or Trice can easily blow by an athletic and focused defender. That's not their game. But in the absence of Gary Harris and Keith Appling, they can't throw up their hands and give in.

MSU might have lost anyway Saturday.

Branden Dawson, who played with vigor, missed 43 layups despite being on the books for 6 of 12 shooting.

MSU couldn't stop Maryland's Trimble or Jake Layman. And when the Spartans don't defend efficiently, they can't run and can't win.

They might simply have been outmatched.

But their two leaders didn't go down swinging.