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
against complex defense good helped offense prep week
Our defense was very, very good against a very complex offense at times. A week prep for that offense helped us.
against almost execute good last shooting three
We didn't execute as well in the last three minutes. We were shooting almost 50% against a good team, we just couldn't get it done down the stretch.
against chalk gonna point points remember teams winning
I can remember back in the championship years winning by one point and two points against teams that weren't as good. I'm gonna chalk this up to a win when we weren't at our best.
against basketball best couple good performance question
I don't think there's any question that was our best performance of the year, against a really good team. That was our best basketball in a couple of years.
fact five free gone guys last loved paul please shot throws whether
I loved the fact that they showed the grit. We went to different guys at different times. Whether it be Paul and Mo with the free throws or Shannon with the big shot and the step-back, I think each one of them did some different things. They can play better, but please don't underestimate what they've gone through in the last five days.
consistent guys trying understand
I'm trying to understand why we haven't been as consistent as we need to be. I'm only disappointed when guys don't play to their potential, and we haven't had enough guys do that together.
close few time tired
I'm tired of being close this year. It's time we got a few more things done.
believer goes ncaa schedule strength totally
I'm not a big believer that the NCAA goes totally on strength of schedule and things like that, so I think you still have to have wins.
advantage believer hurt ohio respect shipped state time winning won
I'm not a big believer in that. The one time it really hurt was when Ohio State won the thing (in 2002) and got shipped west. That was awful. In that respect it would be an advantage losing, but for the most part winning is more of an advantage.
good ncaa playing record seasons straight tournament turn win worthy year
I'm not a record guy. I don't need to win 700 games, I don't need to have 20 straight 20-win seasons ... and I don't need to get in the NCAA tournament every year if we're not worthy of being in it. If we're not playing good enough or we can't win a game, it just doesn't turn me on.
bit five happy ready six tapes ton tonight video work
I know a little bit about them. I can't say I know a ton about their team, but I'm happy to know that my video guy's got five or six tapes on them already, so tonight we should get a lot of work done and be ready to go by Friday.
best looks ncaa recruiting respect sell teams tournament understand university win
I kind of respect and understand his theory, because it's a lot like mine. He looks at it like the only way he's getting to the NCAA tournament is to win his league, so if he can go out and play some of the best teams and sell that in recruiting and it makes the university some money.
america bit bob bring chance hope looking since
I'm looking at this as a miniature Bob Hope tour. We're going to get a chance to bring a little bit of America over to them, since they've done so much for us.
deal felt hold struggled tough tried worst
It's not an excuse. He just struggled as you saw. It was one of his worst games. I felt for him after, and I felt for him that he tried to hold it all in, but it's been a tough deal for him.