DETROIT (AP) --
DETROIT (AP) - Travis Walton played defense when few of his
peers did back in high school and summer-league games.
It earned him a Michigan State scholarship four years ago.
Now a national title could be up for grabs.
The end of Walton's college career might hinge on how he fares
against Connecticut's A.J. Prince in a national semifinal tomorrow
night.
Spartans coach Tom Izzo says he made the mistake of valuing
talent over toughness before recruiting Walton out of Lima, Ohio,
to bring the program back to its blue-collar roots.
Since Izzo succeeded Jud Heathcote in 1995, every player who has
played for the Spartans for four years has been on a Final Four
team.
Walton says it means so much to be part of that streak. But he
hopes his team doesn't stop there.
(Copyright ©2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
