Michigan State basketball made a statement Tuesday night, shaking off their recent setback against Wisconsin with a commanding 82-59 victory over UCLA. The Spartans showed resilience and determination, a testament to their growth under head coach Tom Izzo.
After the game, Izzo shared his thoughts:
"My sport is harder than yours," he joked with Steve Mariucci, adding a light-hearted touch to the post-game conference.
Reflecting on an unusual moment, he commented, "I guess Mick Cronin upgraded that to a flagrant two, huh? That's the first time I've seen a coach do that. He'll get that straightened out."
Izzo provided an injury update: "Denham Wojcik hurt his shoulder a bit, which is why he didn't play in the second half."
He praised Jeremy Fears Jr., saying, "I thought he might've played one of his best games. He was under control and didn't take bad shots. I'm still waiting for him to take over when they switch defenses, and I'm still asking that of him."
Acknowledging the competition, Izzo noted, "Hey, we played better, but that wasn't the UCLA team we saw on film."
He emphasized the importance of mindset, telling his team, "It's about a choice you want to make, it's about an attitude. These swings in conference play are enormous."
Regarding the point guard position, Izzo commented, "I'm not ready to give Jordan Scott that position quite yet. But I liked it, he's been phenomenal. There's no entitlement in Jordan Scott."
Izzo praised Scott's maturity: "Jordan Scott has a sense of urgency and purpose that is far beyond his years."
Looking at potential, Izzo highlighted Coen Carr: "We think he can take two more steps. He can step, he can slash, he's so athletic. Making more shots, he's worked hard at that this year."
Reflecting on the game, Izzo said, "We did some really good things, but we also did some bone-headed things. We need to clean up the bone-headed things and do more of the really good things."
Izzo mentioned key players Kur and Cam Ward: "I brought in those five guys. We need Kur and Cam to step up three steps. We get Cam going a little more each day; he gives us a dimension with that athleticism."
Finally, Izzo praised the fans: "At the end, I thought our fans and the student section did a great job. When a guy comes back, they can be real jerks.
I thought he (Booker) didn't deserve that. Give him credit, give our fans credit."
The Spartans' performance was a promising sign of their potential as they continue their season.