Walton improving offensively for MSU

EAST LANSING - In his first three years at Michigan State, guard Travis Walton was known as a defensive specialist.

Often asked to stop the opponent's top scorer, regardless of position, Walton is a two-time member of the All-Big Ten defensive team.

He also is the Big Ten's top returning assist man from last season.

But with point guards Kalin Lucas and Korie Lucious as the primary ball handlers and high-scoring guard Drew Neitzel gone, Walton has been transformed into a wing player who provides some much needed scoring.

"(The defenders) stay off and yell, 'Yeah, he isn't going to shoot it.' And I make the shot, and I look back at him and kind of smile," said Walton, whose No. 20-ranked Spartans (5-2) will host Alcorn State (2-6) at 6 p.m. today at Breslin Center.

"So it's still different - teams have to adjust to it because they are still not looking at me as a shooter, but I am going to continue to shoot it and continue to get better."

Through the first seven games, Walton is fifth on the team averaging 7.6 points per game. However, he has averaged 10 points per game in the last five.

He set a career-high with 16 points earlier this season against Maryland and then equaled that in the next game against Oklahoma State.

The increased point production has given the senior from Lima, Ohio, a renewed confidence. In previous years, Walton was hesitant to shoot the ball, even if the opponent would leave him open. Now, he has the attitude of any shooter.

"If I miss five shots in a row, I am still going to be confident," Walton said. "Last game, I lost a little confidence at the end of the game when I was in the corner and should of took the jump shot and didn't shoot it, but for the most part, I have been confident in my shot no matter what."

Coming into this season, Walton's role was undetermined. With Lucas entrenched as the starting point guard and the development of sophomore wings Durrell Summers and Chris Allen, many thought Walton's minutes would be reduced.

But by adding scoring ability to accompany his solid defense, Walton gives coach Tom Izzo something the other two wings are still trying to grasp: toughness.

"His shooting has been better," Izzo said of Walton. "I think we have disappointed in how we have run our lanes. But these last three (practice) days, we've shown film on it every day and made some points every day, and I think he is making a lot of progress.

"Besides shooting it better, he can be a great passer."

Izzo said after Sunday's win over Bradley that Walton even played some power forward against the Braves, a testament to the 6-foot-2 Walton's versatility.

Don't expect to see Walton trying to defend the post too often this season, but he still will be counted on to defend the best players of MSU's opponents.

Lucas said he enjoys playing alongside Walton "because he plays so hard."

"We need a guy out there on my right or on my left that I know is going to play hard, and that is the type of person he is," Lucas said. "This summer, he did improve his shot, so I am loving Travis at the 2-guard."