Tom Izzo
Tom Izzo
Thomas Michael Izzois an American college basketball coach. Since 1995, he has been the head coach for the Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team, presiding over a prolonged period of success. On April 4, 2016, Izzo was elected to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame...
ProfessionCoach
Date of Birth30 January 1955
CityIron Mountain, MI
begin brought coming covered felt games guard guards guy guys loss maybe people physical team versatile
It's a big loss for us, especially in the games we had coming up, because we felt he was a guy who could have covered a lot of people on the perimeter or inside. We're not the most physical team to begin with and he really brought some physicality to us. But maybe more importantly, I think he's a versatile guy who can guard guards on the perimeter, and he can guard big guys inside. We just don't have many guys who are able to do that.
afraid confidence consistency couple eight losses lost maybe nobody playing record start
I look at our record and eight losses is more than I'd like to see, but I also look at it like, I haven't lost any confidence in this team. I'm disappointed maybe in the consistency of a couple guys, but I haven't lost confidence in what I think we can still do. ... There's nobody I'm afraid to play, and I just want to start playing better, consistently, ourselves.
alan anderson brings cover guy loss maybe people physical players quick six three
He'll be out three to six weeks. It's a big loss for us. We're not the most physical team, and he brings a little physicality. And maybe more importantly, he's a guy who can cover people on the perimeter or inside. We don't have many players who are quick enough to do that, like Alan Anderson did.
changed complexion foul key leads losses maybe michigan playing serious trouble
In our losses to Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin, we've had serious foul trouble at key times. Maybe we've had leads or were playing good, but it changed the complexion of the game.
brings coming games guard guy guys loss physical playing versatile
It's a big loss for us in games coming up. It's disappointing because he was playing better. We're not the most physical team, and he brings a little physicality to us. He's a versatile guy who can guard on the perimeter and guard big guys inside.
coming felt game hardest loss next question rivalry
I think the hardest game (of the stretch) is the one (today). Coming off a rivalry game or a big game, the next game is always tough. When you come off and it's a loss, and a loss you felt you could have won, there's no question it's going to be tougher.
bottom conference eight fight four gonna losses maybe others race round scheduling strongest teams ten top win
I said that there could be eight teams vie for the championship. I think scheduling (the Big Ten doesn't play a round robin, so some teams play others just once) is gonna play a part in everything. I still think our conference could fight to be the strongest in the country. When you look top to bottom at the conference race this year, four losses could win it, maybe more.
bizarre good hung hurt played sort wisconsin
That was a bizarre game. I thought Wisconsin played very well in the first half, and we just sort of hung in the game. I thought it hurt them when Tucker went out, and I thought we did some good things, too.
forced tried
He probably tried to do too much because he was forced into that position.
iowa played second
I thought Iowa played very solid. In the second half, they played much better defensively.
finally practice
It's kind of nice. They don't like to practice?I do. So they finally get their way.
fatigue zero
Fatigue had zero to do with the loss.
encouraged facts opinion
I have encouraged him to (speak out). My opinion is he has some facts to get straightened out. I don't know if he will or not.
becoming control game growing means player speaks special thrives took volumes
He kind of thrives on pressure, he kind of thrives on big moments. He took control of the game, under control. And that speaks volumes of a player when he can take control of game and do it under control. I think that means the guy's really growing up and becoming a special player.