“We’re really trying to take this to another level, that is the whole mentality that is the mantra of the year you know let’s take it to another level.” Izzo told reporters. “We’ve gotten to five Final Fours since we won it in 2000, and that is in what, 15 years, but we haven’t won another one. 

"And football motivates me. You know, if we can both have great years at the same time and build this athletic department into something that is incredible. I think that is motivation for our own players, so i’ve got a lot of reasons to be motivated, none more than nice to get to a Final Four, and nicer to win a National Championship.”

Coach Izzo likes the way his team looks this year too, but he knows it’s still early and injuries may present some struggles to the team.

“I like them. I have some question marks, one is at power forward as far as what we can do with Clark being out right now,” Izzo said. “But I think we have good guard play. Our centers have all gotten better. I think the positive and the negative is DD [Deyonta Davis] and Gavin and and Matt are going to get more work together as four and five men by necessity just because of the injuries, but that might help us in the long run.”

The Spartan head coach is also feeling more pumped-up than ever, and he’ll be looking to focus his energy on the court and turn that into opportunities for the team.

“I think (my energy) is higher right now," he said. "I don’t know why, I just feel great. I don't know if it is the whole atmosphere around here. I don’t know what it is if it’s my comfort level with where I am at or how I feel about it, but right now I have a high, high meter.

"I don’t know if I’m starting to appreciate life more and the opportunities I have, whatever the reason is, really doesn’t matter. I think this team’s got a chance to get better and they got better from the beginning of the summer to the end of the summer and they got better over the trip to Italy and I think I am looking forward to today’s practice.”