Michigan State opened practice on Tuesday, and Tom Izzo didn’t waste much time getting to the point: he likes what he sees.
With the Spartans entering what Izzo called his 32nd season on the bench, the program is drawing plenty of attention as a team with real Big Ten title and national championship ambitions. After the first day of practice, Izzo met with the media and covered a wide range of topics, from roster construction to the energy around the program to the football team and the fans he wants showing up on Saturday.
Izzo made it clear he’s encouraged by the early signs.
"I don't believe in moral victories, but I do believe in what I saw. I think this team has a chance to win more than what most people predicted."
That confidence comes with a roster he believes fits together well. Izzo pointed to the way his older players have handled the newcomers, saying, "I love the way our upperclassmen have embraced (the freshmen)."
He also sounded comfortable with where the roster stands right now. "I think (this team is) an ideal blend for me. I think 12 scholarships is a good number for us right now."
Depth is part of the appeal, too. Izzo said, "We have some depth, finally, at a couple of positions and it's a team I'm looking forward to coaching."
And for him, the fit goes beyond talent. "I think we have players who understand that we want to do what's best for the player and for the program."
That balance should help Michigan State spread the workload around. Izzo suggested this group could rely on more than the usual short rotation, saying, "I think we're going to play more than the eight players that most teams are going to play…hopefully we have a little bit of everything."
A few individual players came up as well, including Jeremy Fears. Izzo said, "I think Jeremy (Fears) is maturing in a lot of ways.
I think he's in the best shape he's been in since he came to college. I think his percentages are going to go up.
I think defensively is where you're going to see him make the biggest strides."
He also praised Dan Bartholomae. "I'm pleased with Dan (Bartholomae). The biggest thing we can do right now is find people who aren't entitled and are ready to roll up their sleeves and go to work."
With practice underway, Izzo’s tone matched the buzz around the program: optimistic, but grounded in the work still ahead.
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