Izzo plays best for the home team
By Gerry Ahern, Yahoo! Sports
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Tom Izzo isn’t going to Oregon. He’d be crazy to go to the New Jersey Nets. He shouldn’t go anywhere and here’s why: Because he is the perfect fit at Michigan State and he couldn’t duplicate his success in Eugene, Newark or any other city, college or pro.
Izzo has become the preeminent college coach of the past decade because he owns the state of Michigan and its fertile pipeline of players. A native of Iron Mountain in the Upper Peninsula, he can supplement his homegrown crop with a guy or two from outside as necessary.
And once those players get to MSU, he knows how to motivate them and get the most out of them. He’s done it time and again, perhaps never better than how he managed to take this season’s team to the Final Four.
“It was great coaching,” said Goran Suton, a standout on last year’s Spartans who made it to the national title game against North Carolina. “With handling all the adversity and injuries, it’s unbelievable that they have gone this far.
“I wish I was still on the team.”
Tom Izzo has taken Michigan State to six Final Fours, and the latest trip may be his most impressive coaching job yet.
Suton, who now plays professionally for Spartak in Russia, is right in his reverence. Look at what Izzo has done under less-than-perfect circumstances this March.
• Star point guard Kalin Lucas goes out with a season-ending Achilles tendon injury in the first half against Maryland, and in comes Korie Lucious, a sophomore reserve. Lucious looks more than comfortable running the show, hitting clutch jumpers to cap tournament wins over Maryland and Northern Iowa.
• Izzo sends Durrell Summers to the bench multiple times during the regular season and in the Big Ten tournament, but when he needs scoring punch and defense in the NCAAs, he picks him up and has him scoring at a 20-point per game clip and guarding like a madman.
• Delvon Roe tears the meniscus in his right knee in February, but keeps logging 20-plus minutes, keeps banging the boards. Why? Because he wants to prove he can contribute and tough it out.
• Chris Allen tears a ligament in his right foot, but is willing to drag it around and knock down some 3-pointers to keep the opponent honest.
• Raymar Morgan struggles with consistency, but scores the game-winning points at crunch time in two tournament games.
• Draymond Green helps direct the offense, makes smart passes, rebounds and defends with vigor, all while coming off the bench.
The list goes on and on.
“He is gonna try to get the last little bit you got,” Summers said of Izzo. “You can be tongue hanging out of your mouth dying, and he’s still gonna try to get a little bit more out of you. I think that’s what makes him special at this time of year.”
Would Izzo have that kind of depth, that kind of heart at Oregon or anywhere else on a year-to-year basis? Would the pros in New Jersey respond to his stomping, prodding, in-your-face approach? It seems unlikely.
Phil Knight and Oregon have all that Nike money to toss around. The soon-to-be deep-pocketed Nets, under Russian owner Mikhail Prokhorov, could up the ante. But Izzo already pulls in more than $3 million a year at MSU and is under contract through 2016. His boss, athletic director Mark Hollis, happens to be one of his closest friends.
As successful as Izzo has been – 364-145 record, six Final Fours and a national championship over 15 seasons – there will always be interest in his skills. It has become a rite of spring in mid-Michigan. There was the dalliance with the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks in 2000, the Kentucky job in 2007, then again last year. Now, the reported interest from Oregon and from the Nets.
Izzo is worthy of all the attention and overtures because he is so good at what he does. He is driven by how to do things his way, the right way. He loathes those who try to take shortcuts. At 55, he has said he doesn’t plan to coach into his golden years, as did his predecessor and mentor Jud Heathcote. His plan is to retire in time to enjoy some of what he has worked so hard for.
Doesn’t sound like a man interested in a rebuilding project.
Izzo reiterated Tuesday that he hasn’t been contacted by Oregon. He scoffed at the report, asking why the school would tell a TV reporter of its coaching search strategy. He noted that a week ago, Minnesota’s Tubby Smith was reportedly the leading candidate for the job. He’s done this dance so many times before.
“I’ve been fortunate that my name does come up for some jobs because that’s a privilege, not a right,” Izzo said. “Yet it always comes at a bad time as far as distractions. I can only promise you guys that this will not be one. I am going to put everything I can into trying to bring this university its third crystal ball and that is all I’m doing.
“As long as they want to keep me, I plan on being here.”
To a man his players said they pay no attention to the buzz. Just the type of response they would have been coached to give.
“I think what most of them hope is it’s a pro job because they think I’d be dumb enough to take them,” Izzo said jokingly. “I already told a couple of them, ‘I had you for two or three or four years, you think if I took a pro job I’d take you with me for more pain for another three or four years?’
“We laugh about it.”
Izzo is known to show a sense of humor with his team. He can also chew hide with the best of them. His tough-love tactics wouldn’t play in the NBA. Mega-millionaires generally tune out plain-old multi-millionaires. The pro game is much more about the guys who wear the uniforms, not the suits.
It’s just the opposite in college ball. The people known by one name aren’t Kobe and LeBron. They are Krzyzewski and Izzo.
Geographically speaking, a move to another college town makes little sense.
Izzo’s ability to recruit the likes of Detroit, Flint and Saginaw wouldn’t help him as much in another region. He joked last week about telling his best friend, former NFL coach Steve Mariucci, that he never had to change his driver’s license.
There’s probably a part of the hyper-competitive Izzo that would like to prove wrong those who say a “college coach” can’t get it done in the Association. He certainly silenced those who questioned his hiring as Heathcote’s replacement back in 1995. All he’s done since is wallpaper the Breslin Center with Big Ten title banners and Final Four flags.
With two more victories, he could add more national championship bling to the trophy case.
Then there’s the ultra-promising future in East Lansing. Lucas had successful surgery Tuesday and will likely return next season. Summers is expected back as well along with Roe, Allen, Green and Lucious. The only key loss is Morgan, a graduating senior.
And in comes center Adreian Payne of Dayton, Ohio, guard Keith Appling of Detroit, forward Russell Byrd of Fort Wayne, Ind., and forward Alex Gauna of Eaton Rapids, Mich. That’s a five-star, a four-star and two three-star recruits, respectively, according to Rivals.com.
“What he has built here is a legacy,” Suton said. “He can beat any record out there staying here. I think it’s more of a pride thing than a money thing. But I can’t speak for him. I don’t think he’s leaving. I don’t think he ever will.”
So relax Michigan State fans.
Tom Izzo should be staying.
That’s what’s best for him and best for you.
Michigan State returns to Final Four again
ST. LOUIS (AP)
Don’t bet against Tom Izzo and Michigan State this time of year.
Raymar Morgan’s free throw with less than 2 seconds left gave the Spartans a 70-69 victory over Tennessee in the Midwest Regional final Sunday, sending Michigan State to its sixth Final Four in 12 years and second in a row.
No team in the country—not North Carolina, not Kentucky, not UCLA—has done it better during that span. And all six trips have come under Izzo, the hard-nosed coach who preaches defense, rebounding and physical play.
“I like it more than I used to,” Izzo said of playing in March. “It’s even better than I thought.”
Oh, and how’s this for some symmetry? This happens to be the 10th anniversary of the “Flintstones,” the team that gave Michigan State its second national title. Highlights from that run were included in the video montage of past championships that played on the Edward Jones Dome’s massive Jumbotron during halftime.
The fifth-seeded Spartans, last year’s national runner-up, will be looking for championship No. 3 next weekend in Indianapolis. They play Butler, also a No. 5 seed and sure to be the hometown favorite, in the semifinals Saturday night.
The Spartans (28-8) led by as many as eight in the second half, but Brian Williams pulled sixth-seeded Tennessee (28-9) within 69-68 on a putback with 2:10 left. Korie Lucious, who took over as point guard after 2009 Big Ten player of the year Kalin Lucas ruptured his Achilles’ tendon last weekend, missed the front end of a 1-and-1 with 29 seconds left and Scotty Hopson got the rebound.
Hopson was fouled at the other end, and made the first. But after a Michigan State timeout, he missed the second and Lucious—generously listed at 5-foot-11 — ended up with the rebound.
Draymond Green fed the ball inside to Morgan, who got hacked by J.P. Prince with 1.8 seconds left.
Morgan made the first and, after timeouts by both teams, missed the second—on purpose. Williams came up with the rebound but Prince fumbled the inbounds pass and had to heave up a prayer just before the buzzer.
“It’s just tough, 1 second,” Prince said. “You want to shoot it perfect but you’ve got to rush. You don’t want it to come down to a half-court shot, but that’s what it came down to.”
Prince wasn’t even close, and Michigan State and its fans—led by Spartan-in-chief Magic Johnson—began what’s become a traditional postgame celebration.
“I’m not surprised,” Johnson said. “Tom Izzo does his best in the NCAA tournament.”
Hard to argue with that.
Izzo, who took over from longtime mentor Jud Heathcote for the 1995-96 season, is 6-1 in the regional finals. The only loss was to top-seeded Texas in 2003.
Michigan State is the only team from last year’s Final Four to make it back. Heck, North Carolina, which demolished the Spartans in the title game, didn’t even make the NCAA tournament. Neither did Connecticut, and Villanova was knocked out in the second round.
“There is nothing greater than going to a Final Four that I know of,” Izzo said, “except winning it.”
And while it’s hard to beat that title in 2000, this might be the finest coaching job Izzo has done. In addition to losing Lucas, Delvon Roe is playing on a torn meniscus and Chris Allen has an aching foot. The Spartans have been forced to go to an offense-by-committee, led by Durrell Summers.
Summers, who played just 9 minutes in the first half because of foul trouble, finished with 21 points on 8-of-10 shooting. Morgan and Green added 13 each, and Morgan also had 10 rebounds.
Tennessee, meanwhile, will have to take comfort in knowing it got further than any other Volunteers team. This was their first appearance in the regional finals, and there is no question they belonged.
They made their first six shots of the game—going 4 for 4 from 3-point range, shot 51 percent overall and had four players in double figures, led by senior Wayne Chism’s 13 points.
Prince finished with 12 on 5-of-5 shooting, and Williams had 11.
Tennessee has long been a basketball powerhouse—in women’s hoops. But coach Bruce Pearl has energized the men’s program, as evidenced by the orange-hued dome and the Vols’ first appearance in the regional final. Few would have thought the Tennessee men would last longer than the top-seeded women, who were beaten by No. 4 Baylor on Saturday in the regional semifinals.
“We came to St. Louis expecting to win two games and we played pretty well both nights,” Pearl said.
“We saw all that orange out there. This isn’t close to home, either. They got in their car and they drove here. I think they enjoyed this group tremendously.”
Though they were going against a program that oozes experience—“Final Fours are a big thing in this program,” Green said Saturday—the Vols came in with swagger and strut.
Chism’s 3-pointer put them up 50-45 with 15:46 left and prompted another roar from the thousands of Tennessee fans who had made the trek north. But come tournament time, the Spartans simply find a way to get it done. Cranking up the in-your-jersey defense that makes Big Ten opponents shudder, they held the Vols without a field goal for the next 7 1/2 minutes while ripping off a 14-1 run.
Chris Allen made a 3, and Summers converted a three-point play after being fouled on a jumper just inside the line. After Williams’ free throw, Morgan scored on a layup and Lucious hit a 3-pointer to put the Spartans up 56-51 with 12:25 to play.
As a timeout was called, Lucious held up his right hand toward the Michigan State section as if to say, “Bring it on.”
Green then converted another three-point play, giving the Spartans a 59-51 lead, the largest of the game, with 11:42 to play.
But the Volunteers had one more run in them. Bobby Maze scored on a layup— Tennessee’s first field goal since 15:46—and Williams followed with two jumpers to put the Vols back on top, 62-61, setting up the frenetic finish.
Don’t bet against Tom Izzo and Michigan State this time of year.
Raymar Morgan’s free throw with less than 2 seconds left gave the Spartans a 70-69 victory over Tennessee in the Midwest Regional final Sunday, sending Michigan State to its sixth Final Four in 12 years and second in a row.
No team in the country—not North Carolina, not Kentucky, not UCLA—has done it better during that span. And all six trips have come under Izzo, the hard-nosed coach who preaches defense, rebounding and physical play.
“I like it more than I used to,” Izzo said of playing in March. “It’s even better than I thought.”
Oh, and how’s this for some symmetry? This happens to be the 10th anniversary of the “Flintstones,” the team that gave Michigan State its second national title. Highlights from that run were included in the video montage of past championships that played on the Edward Jones Dome’s massive Jumbotron during halftime.
The fifth-seeded Spartans, last year’s national runner-up, will be looking for championship No. 3 next weekend in Indianapolis. They play Butler, also a No. 5 seed and sure to be the hometown favorite, in the semifinals Saturday night.
The Spartans (28-8) led by as many as eight in the second half, but Brian Williams pulled sixth-seeded Tennessee (28-9) within 69-68 on a putback with 2:10 left. Korie Lucious, who took over as point guard after 2009 Big Ten player of the year Kalin Lucas ruptured his Achilles’ tendon last weekend, missed the front end of a 1-and-1 with 29 seconds left and Scotty Hopson got the rebound.
Hopson was fouled at the other end, and made the first. But after a Michigan State timeout, he missed the second and Lucious—generously listed at 5-foot-11 — ended up with the rebound.
Draymond Green fed the ball inside to Morgan, who got hacked by J.P. Prince with 1.8 seconds left.
Morgan made the first and, after timeouts by both teams, missed the second—on purpose. Williams came up with the rebound but Prince fumbled the inbounds pass and had to heave up a prayer just before the buzzer.
“It’s just tough, 1 second,” Prince said. “You want to shoot it perfect but you’ve got to rush. You don’t want it to come down to a half-court shot, but that’s what it came down to.”
Prince wasn’t even close, and Michigan State and its fans—led by Spartan-in-chief Magic Johnson—began what’s become a traditional postgame celebration.
“I’m not surprised,” Johnson said. “Tom Izzo does his best in the NCAA tournament.”
Hard to argue with that.
Izzo, who took over from longtime mentor Jud Heathcote for the 1995-96 season, is 6-1 in the regional finals. The only loss was to top-seeded Texas in 2003.
Michigan State is the only team from last year’s Final Four to make it back. Heck, North Carolina, which demolished the Spartans in the title game, didn’t even make the NCAA tournament. Neither did Connecticut, and Villanova was knocked out in the second round.
“There is nothing greater than going to a Final Four that I know of,” Izzo said, “except winning it.”
And while it’s hard to beat that title in 2000, this might be the finest coaching job Izzo has done. In addition to losing Lucas, Delvon Roe is playing on a torn meniscus and Chris Allen has an aching foot. The Spartans have been forced to go to an offense-by-committee, led by Durrell Summers.
Summers, who played just 9 minutes in the first half because of foul trouble, finished with 21 points on 8-of-10 shooting. Morgan and Green added 13 each, and Morgan also had 10 rebounds.
Tennessee, meanwhile, will have to take comfort in knowing it got further than any other Volunteers team. This was their first appearance in the regional finals, and there is no question they belonged.
They made their first six shots of the game—going 4 for 4 from 3-point range, shot 51 percent overall and had four players in double figures, led by senior Wayne Chism’s 13 points.
Prince finished with 12 on 5-of-5 shooting, and Williams had 11.
Tennessee has long been a basketball powerhouse—in women’s hoops. But coach Bruce Pearl has energized the men’s program, as evidenced by the orange-hued dome and the Vols’ first appearance in the regional final. Few would have thought the Tennessee men would last longer than the top-seeded women, who were beaten by No. 4 Baylor on Saturday in the regional semifinals.
“We came to St. Louis expecting to win two games and we played pretty well both nights,” Pearl said.
“We saw all that orange out there. This isn’t close to home, either. They got in their car and they drove here. I think they enjoyed this group tremendously.”
Though they were going against a program that oozes experience—“Final Fours are a big thing in this program,” Green said Saturday—the Vols came in with swagger and strut.
Chism’s 3-pointer put them up 50-45 with 15:46 left and prompted another roar from the thousands of Tennessee fans who had made the trek north. But come tournament time, the Spartans simply find a way to get it done. Cranking up the in-your-jersey defense that makes Big Ten opponents shudder, they held the Vols without a field goal for the next 7 1/2 minutes while ripping off a 14-1 run.
Chris Allen made a 3, and Summers converted a three-point play after being fouled on a jumper just inside the line. After Williams’ free throw, Morgan scored on a layup and Lucious hit a 3-pointer to put the Spartans up 56-51 with 12:25 to play.
As a timeout was called, Lucious held up his right hand toward the Michigan State section as if to say, “Bring it on.”
Green then converted another three-point play, giving the Spartans a 59-51 lead, the largest of the game, with 11:42 to play.
But the Volunteers had one more run in them. Bobby Maze scored on a layup— Tennessee’s first field goal since 15:46—and Williams followed with two jumpers to put the Vols back on top, 62-61, setting up the frenetic finish.
