Our coverage of Michigan State basketball’s big rivalry weekend against Michigan continues. If you weren’t able to watch Tom Izzo’s full pre-game media session where he spoke on a number of topics, we have you covered below.
In the quotes below, Izzo gives some final thoughts on the somewhat strange win over Penn State that showcased some of his team’s inconsistencies, recent tragic events, the firing of Chris Holtmann at Ohio State, and talked more specifically about the rivalry with Michigan and the atmosphere he is expecting tomorrow night.
On the shooting in Kansas City
“From our staff, from our team and from our program, we send prayers and condolences to all the people in Kansas City. It just disgusts me.. it doesn’t even upset me, it’s worse than that, what’s going on and I wish I knew the reasons, I wish I knew what started it, to break away these celebrations and not be able to enjoy them with your family and your kids sickens me…”
On the firing of Chris Holtmann at Ohio State
“It’s also disturbing to me, I don’t get into other peoples’ business, but I feel for Chris Holtmann and what’s gone on there, again, I don’t all the circumstances, I just know it’s been at least five years in the NCAA Tournament. Right now we’re all going through a tough time as far as figuring out whether you want to take on a freshman, or whether you want to take transfers, and it’s really hard to navigate for all of us, and that’s another thing that saddens me is that because of all this stuff, coaches are going to lose their jobs. And I’ve always stuck up for coaches.”
On Michigan
“Yeah they are a completely different team I mean you guys know it. You know it’s been a strange year for him, I sympathize with him on this standpoint, you got your best player out, in half the games, out half the games, it has to be really, really difficult, most of haven’t gone through something like that so it’s hard to say, but I think what is important is, you look at every game, including our game, and they were up at halftime, every game they’ve been in 90-percent of them. The Illinois game was the exception to the rule, and just couldn’t find a way to win one, and then they beat Wisconsin. This is a rivalry game which means nothing matters, as far as record, but it’s even magnified because of a player that’s playing now that is their best scorer, that is their best player, that hasn’t played in half their games on the road… So yeah, I’m sure it’s a difficult time for them, also a difficult time for the teams playing them, trying to figure out which team you’re gonna get.”
On the Penn State game
“I just need more consistency with the energy… we must be the greatest team in America at taking players who are shooting terrible, then you know the one kid Kern goes two for two. They bring the kid out, Johnson, he goes two for two. The other kid is a good shooter, he goes four for five or five for six… I am concerned because we haven’t guarded the three as well over the last three weeks. Michigan is a good three-point shooting team at times.”
Is it harder to keep a lead or to fight to get a lead?
“If I lose the game then it’s harder to keep a lead like at Minnesota, if I win a game it’s harder to go the other way, so that’s some coach’s BS. You know, especially if you’re on the road you know, if you’re trying to hold a lead and momentum goes their way, it really rocks the place.”
On Jaden Akins recent great play
“I’ve been really proud of Jaden… I don’t think there’s any question, Jaden is as good of a deep shooter as we’ve got. If we ever get him and Tyson at the same time, and A.J. doing what a good point guard does and that’s get it to those guys, and Malik playing better, and then center by committee, it’s not always pretty, but we’re starting to get more points and rebounds from that position, that’s how we’ll get better.”
