Coaches No One Wants To Face Finally Face Each Other
If your teams are already back in class, you could do worse than adopt Izzo and the seventh-seeded Michigan State Spartans.
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If your teams are already back in class, you could do worse than adopt Izzo and the seventh-seeded Michigan State Spartans.
It's times like this when all the frustration seems worth it to Tom Izzo.
Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo is a top 5 college coach in the nation.
When Tom Izzo walked into the media room at the Breslin Center, the place was already full of reporters who had been listening to football coach Mark Dantonio's briefing about the start of spring practice.
So when Michigan got decent and then fantastic for a bit it was officially on.
Michigan State athletics have simply been dominating the state over the past half decade.
Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo needs the team's trio of leaders - his "three amigos," as he calls them - to step up their games.
"It's not just about March to me, it's about the process to get to March," Izzo said.
Izzo, whose Spartans enter the tournament as a seven-seed after a relatively rocky season, did not label Kentucky as a sure bet to win it all.
"I don't think it's going to be the detriment that cost us for sure four to five games this year," Izzo said of the team's foul shooting.
At times this season, even Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo wondered whether the Spartans would be able to extend the program's streak to 18 straight NCAA tournament selections.
Michigan State led 57-46 after going on a 17-5 run midway through the second half, only to have Wisconsin come back.
Sixth-ranked Wisconsin will take on Michigan State for the Big Ten title.
Travis Trice equaled a career high with 27 points helping the Spartans to a 72-66 victory over Purdue on Wednesday night.
Tom Izzo enjoys the unfriendly reception he gets in opposing arenas — the chants and the signs are part of what makes college basketball fun for the Michigan State coach.
Travis Trice had four of Michigan State's season-high 13 3-pointers ...
Tom Izzo sounded glad the game was over.
Asked if coaches think about the worst possible outcome before calling a risky play, Izzo replied in the affirmative.
Denzel Valentine had 25 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, and Michigan State held rival Michigan scoreless in overtime ...
Although neither team is ranked, Sunday's game is still a big one with potential NCAA tournament implications.
I think it's truly lame the lack of buzz one of my favorite games is getting so let's change it. What do you say?
"This is a little more concerning," Izzo said. "We've got parents calling and wondering."
Branden Dawson had 12 points, 10 rebounds and three blocked shots to help Michigan State outlast Penn State 66-60 on Wednesday night.
Michigan State opened the second half on a 25-9 run and never looked back ...
Tuesday was not a good day for Michigan State hoops.
