Markquis Nowell compares his journey to Tyson Walker at Michigan State

When Kansas State and Michigan State meet in the Sweet 16 on Thursday night it’ll be a Madison Square Garden showdown between two local area players: the Wildcats’ Markquis Nowell and the Spartans’ Tyson Walker.

Nowell is from Harlem and Walker is from Westbury.

But more than that is similar between the two, at least if you ask Nowell. He credited both players with overcoming the odds to be present to play in Madison Square Garden this week.

“I feel like we have similar journeys,” Nowell said. “He grew up similar background like me, and we just worked hard. We eliminated all distractions, and we put basketball first. That’s why you get to see Tyson out of Michigan State, get to see José Alvarado in the NBA.”

The stage will be a fantastic one for two of the more fun players in the country. Both can absolutely light it up when they get hot.

During Kansas State’s fantastic run to the Sweet 16 Nowell has been a major contributor, scoring 17.1 points per contest. Walker isn’t far behind for Michigan State, averaging 14.8 points per game.

Heading into the contest, Nowell wanted to give his fellow New Yorker a tip of the cap. It’ll be all business come Thursday.

“Not a lot of people get to make it where we come from, so that’s why I wanted to shout him out for making it to this stage,” Nowell said.

Tom Izzo excited for Walker’s special moment

A man who has had more than a few experiences playing deep into the NCAA Tournament, Michigan State coach Tom Izzo also seemed to realize how big a deal Thursday night’s game would eventually be for Tyson Walker.

Even if he doesn’t have the chance to dwell on it much now, he’ll always be able to say he played in Madison Square Garden with everything on the line.

“This is a privilege and an honor, and it’s something you should dream about when you’re out shooting baskets outside,” Izzo said. “A chance to play in Madison Square Garden, which growing up in New York, it’s probably even bigger than it is growing up in the Midwest because you know what the Garden is. I just like walking through the Garden and seeing the pictures of all the great performers, the great boxers like Muhammad Ali and things that have gone on here are incredible.

“He was excited. He’s kind of a reserved kid. He gets excited. He gets angry sometimes, but he’s a pretty reserved guy. I just know it meant a lot to him. I know it meant a lot to his family. What a great experience, to play Duke in Mike’s last game, and then play against Kansas State in his home ground in arguably the greatest arena in the world. Pretty cool. Pretty cool for him.”

Michigan State and Kansas State will tip off at 6:30 p.m. ET on Thursday with the game televised nationally on TBS.