Dayton, Ohio — The hype was everywhere in October.
It was difficult to look at a college basketball publication without seeing Maurice Ager, Shannon Brown or Paul Davis. The Sporting News even ranked the Spartans at No. 1 in its preseason poll.
Now, after a second first-round exit in three years, MSU head coach Tom Izzo is left to reassess his program that will be without its two best players next season.
But what stood out most to Izzo after his team's disappointing 75-65 loss to George Mason in the first round of the NCAA Tournament was the lack of toughness.
"I believe since the day I came here, there was a way I wanted our program to be and there was a way I think you have to be to be successful and that's to be just tougher, physically and mentally, than the opponent," Izzo said.
"It has been a struggle with this team a little bit. We've talked about it and I guess it reassures what I've always believed."
The old Izzo adage, PP-TPW — Players Play-Tough Players Win — failed him this season. Only one player, senior forward Matt Trannon, was regularly given credit for being tough enough.
"The coach has to take responsibility for his (team) not performing to the level it's capable of," Izzo said. "This team did not perform to the level I think it's capable of and I take full responsibility for that. I'm going to figure out a way to make sure I recommit myself to 'players play; tough players win.'"
George Mason dominated the Spartans on the glass. The Patriots outrebounded MSU, 40-24, and shot 59.2 percent from the field. Izzo said his team has never been handled like that inside before.
George Mason forward Will Thomas alone scored 18 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, getting his shots off at will.
"They brought the fight to us and we just didn't bring it," MSU junior forward Delco Rowley said. "They beat us in every aspect of the game. It's our own fault. Coach harped on it all year that we need to get tougher and play harder. We just didn't bring it.
"We've been up and down all season and Coach has been telling us all season that it's going to catch us and unfortunately, it has."
Now, Izzo is left to figure out what went wrong.
"In some ways, maybe things like this are good because you can re-evaluate yourself a little bit," he said.
"But I've also said for a couple of years that our teams are not as tough as the teams that won consistently here. You can win different ways, but you better have that ingredient if you're going to be successful. That's my job to mold them."
If Izzo's demeanor after the loss is any indication of what's to come, it's going to be a long off-season for those that will be back next year.
"If I have to lift every day with them this spring and summer, we'll be a better basketball team, I guarantee you," Izzo said.
"We'll be back where we belong. We're going to get a little tougher than we've been the past couple years. That's a promise to all of you."
