When it comes to the expectations placed on college basketball coaches these days, perhaps Janet Jackson said it best with the title of her 1986 hit, "What Have You Done for Me Lately?"
Coach Tom Izzo will have a chance to notch his 200th win as MSU's head coach against Iowa on Wednesday. Izzo, who is in his ninth year on the job, was asked if he'll be around for another 200 wins at MSU.
"No, I won't be around that long," he said. "I'm not saying that I'm done tomorrow, but I don't see guys going 25 to 30 years at the same place very often.
"I think coaches wear out their welcome. I don't think that's a negative, I just think that's the way it is."
It would be hard to imagine Izzo wearing out his welcome at MSU. He never has had a losing season, he has taken the Spartans to the NCAA Tournament each of the last six seasons, he has coached in the Final Four three times and, most importantly, he has the 2000 National Championship under his belt.
That kind of success would seem to guarantee some job security, but Izzo said wins and championships of the past don't warrant any free passes.
"You're not as good as two, three seasons ago," he said. "I don't necessarily think that any one of us is safe and secure in your job, because what happens if you do struggle? It becomes so big that it affects all kinds of things, from recruiting to everything else."
Right now, however, Izzo's job security is not an issue. MSU struggled early this season but has played well in the conference. The Spartans (10-8 overall, 5-2 Big Ten) are tied for second in the league with Indiana.
Although there are no signs that Izzo is leaving MSU any time soon, he said he still has a "lifelong dream" to coach another sport: Football.
"It's still my dream and I don't think I'm going to change that dream," Izzo said. "A couple of years in football would be awesome."
Before Izzo makes any drastic career changes, he said he still has some unfinished business at MSU.
"I'd really like to win another championship," he said. "That's probably more far-fetched than being a football coach, but I'd like to win a championship and put this program in a position where it's thought of in the long haul."
Watch your mouth
The Izzone is known for the relentless, and sometimes creative, insults it hurls at opponents. This often adds to the Spartans' home-court advantage, but sometimes the student cheering section is advised to avoid certain taunts.
On a few occasions this season, opposing teams' student sections have heckled Iowa guard Pierre Pierce because he was charged with third-degree sexual assault in 2002. Pierce pled guilty to a lesser charge and was redshirted for the 2002-03 season.
In August, the Big Ten passed a set of initiatives that hold schools responsible if their student sections attack or single out any players.
Izzo said he doesn't expect the Izzone to target Pierce, but it is a concern because it has happened this season.
"I would be very disappointed if they treated him with any disrespect," he said. "I will try to make sure that doesn't happen."
Double dip
After averaging 25.5 points and shooting 52 percent in his last two games, sophomore center Paul Davis was named the Big Ten Player of the Week for the second time in three weeks.
The last time a Spartan won the award twice in one season was 2000-01, when both Jason Richardson and Charlie Bell earned the honor.
