Watch: Tom Izzo gives tearful thank you to Denzel Valentine

Michigan State Spartans coach Tom Izzo grew emotional when thanking senior Denzel Valentine.

Denzel Valentine’s senior season for Michigan State ended with an upset, as the No. 2 Spartans fell to No. 15 Middle Tennessee State on Friday. 

Valentine averaged 19.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 7.6 assists per game for the Spartans this season. He won Big Ten Player of the Year and Big Ten Tournament MVP. Valentine was also an integral part of the Spartans team which made last year’s Final Four.

After the loss to the Blue Raiders, Izzo thanked Valentine for his contributions to the school, with tears in his eyes and he recalled Valentine’s importance to the program.

• Twitter reacts to 15-seed Middle Tennessee’s upset of Michigan State

When asked what he would say to thank Denzel Valentine, Tom Izzo was nearly brought to tears. https://t.co/xOaVz1JHlE

— March Madness Men’s Basketball TV (@MM_MBB_TV) March 18, 2016

Valentine was namedSports Illustrated’s National Player of the Year earlier this month.