Michigan State PG Tyson Walker shows promise. Coaches and teammates know he can give more

EAST LANSING — Things finally felt natural for moment.

Tyson Walker took a pass with 15 seconds left in Friday night’s first half against Western Michigan and brought the ball up the court. Behind him, on Michigan State basketball’s bench, coach Tom Izzo barked for his new point guard to start the final-shot offense.

Marcus Bingham Jr. came to the top of the key, and Walker took dribbles to his left. Sensing the defender backing off, he crossed the ball over between his legs, rose and fired.

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Swish. Buzzer. And an energetic hand-slap from A.J. Hoggard.

This was the type of play Izzo saw on film and the reason he brought in the Northeastern transfer.

“That was the type of shots I was constantly taking before, and I just didn't think it'd be OK here,” Walker said with a smile. “And then me and coach had a discussion, and he told me (to shoot it). And once I got to that spot — a that was my spot — and I shot it.”

In his second game as a Spartan and first at Breslin Center, Walker finished 4 of 7 for nine points with five assists in MSU’s 90-46 blowout of Western Michigan. He also committed three more turnovers in nearly 20 minutes, a sign that adjusting to life with a new coach, a new offense, new arena, and a new state.

“I think he's pressing a little bit, trying to figure out what to do,” Izzo said after Friday’s win. “I think he realizes he's got enough shooters around in Max (Christie) and Joey (Hauser) and Gabe (Brown) that he wants to be a facilitator. And so he's probably caught in the middle a little bit.”

It's also partly about Walker learning and translating what Izzo feels is a good look versus a bad shot within his offense compared to the green light he had at Northeastern his first two seasons.

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“It was just trying to find a happy medium,” Walker said. "The shots I took before were mostly bad shots, so I just didn't know where to find my spots at now. But we talked about it, and I know exactly what to do."

Walker’s return to his new home worked out a little smoother than his visit to his hometown earlier last week.

In last week’s season-opener against No. 3 Kansas in New York, the 6-foot, 175-pound point guard went just 1-for-3 from the field, finishing with just two points, one rebound, three assists, three turnovers and four fouls in an 87-74 loss.

It was the first time the native of Westbury, New York, which is on Long Island, played at Madison Square Garden.

“I think I was a little too excited and trying not to mess up,” Walker recalled Friday. “The speed, the size, we practice against each other every day, and we're just as big or bigger than them. So that wasn't the problem. ... I was excited just to play at the Garden, because every kid wants to do that who's from New York.”

As a sophomore last season at Northeastern before entering the transfer portal, Walker averaged 18.8 points, 4.8 assists and 2.4 steals per game. But in MSU’s two exhibition games against Division II Ferris State and Grand Valley State, he took just seven shots, making five, and no 3-pointers. Walker didn’t take any from behind the arc against the Jayhawks but shot two against the Broncos.

Even his teammates want to see Walker shooting the ball more frequently.

“I was telling him to take shots that are open, and I feel like he had a lot looks that he didn't take and passed up,” Bingham said. “In practices and watching film and just watching going back to the (Kansas) game, we really harped on him that if he's open that we trust him take that shot. If he misses, we're all going to glass anyway, so we might come up with a rebound.

“He's a really good shooter, and he showed that all summer and in practices. We need him doing that more.”

Walker’s six turnovers in two games, though, is something Izzo is concerned about as the Spartans (1-1) travel to Butler for the Gavitt Games on Wednesday at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis (7 p.m./FS1). MSU committed 16 against the Jayhawks and 13 against the Broncos.

“I don't care if he pulls up and shoots it. I might pull him if he doesn't shoot it,” the 27th-year coach said. “But those turnovers, we made a decision as a team, just have to be more non-negotiable.”

Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrissolari. Read more on the Michigan State Spartans and sign up for our Spartans newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan State basketball's Tyson Walker settling in with new team