Tom Izzo delivered his own State of the Union on Monday. Forget the Cabinet — he wants more from the boards.
"This is the worst rebounding team I've ever had, and it's cost us a couple games already," an obviously frustrated Izzo said after practice.
"It borders ridiculous."
The Spartans have a plus-5.4 rebounding margin for the season but have been outrebounded in five of their seven Big Ten games, including three straight.
"There were times you could put two years together, and we weren't out rebounded five times," Izzo said.
Four of the Spartans' five losses this season have come when they were out-rebounded. The other came against Hawaii, when they were tied in rebounds.
"I'm not saying we're the greatest rebounding team, but we're good enough if some people start rebounding instead of standing around, doing nothing," Izzo said. "We're getting to be a little white-collarish, and that ain't so good."
Now is the perfect time for Izzo to launch his board campaign. He's got all week to work on it, as his team is off until Saturday's game at Northwestern.
He said it will be a "wicked week" of rebounding drills in practice.
"This is the week it's got to change," Izzo said. "If that doesn't change, you're going to look at a good basketball team. If it does change, you'll be looking at a great basketball team."
Slow recovery
After missing Saturday's game against Penn State — only his second missed game as a Spartan — senior center Paul Davis said he would "without a doubt" be able to play against Northwestern.
But with the effects still lingering from redshirt freshman center Idong Ibok's accidental elbow to his head, Davis said Monday he's not as confident anymore.
"Even just walking around kind of brings it back, the lightheadedness," said Davis, who had to get 10 stitches to close the wound. "Each day that it's there, you get less confident."
Izzo said a decision on Davis' status will be made later in the week.
"I didn't think he would miss (the Penn State) game," Izzo said. "But now when he's still feeling a little woozy, I'm not ruling anything out."
Davis is averaging 18.1 points and 9.9 rebounds a game.
Poll call
After splitting last week's games, MSU dropped one spot to No. 12 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll.
Wisconsin dropped out of the rankings, and Michigan went from unranked to No. 21 — its first appearance in the top 25 since March 10, 1998. Illinois moved up to No. 6, Ohio State fell four to No. 20 and Indiana slid nine slots to No. 22 after losing at Iowa and Minnesota. Iowa also moved into the rankings at No. 23.
