“It's a little easier and I guess everybody would say every kid is handling things differently,” Izzo said. “I think in general, time heals. It's not going to happen immediately.”

The game against the Golden Gophers, scheduled for Feb. 15, was postponed as a result of the mass shooting that took place just two days prior. There has been no word from the conference or the schools on whether or not the game will be rescheduled. 

“I’m not going to lie to you, I'm frustrated with the Big Ten office and the way it's gone,” Izzo said. “There’s nothing. That’s my disappointment, nothing.”

That matchup against the Gophers, who are ranked dead last in the Big Ten with a 1-15 record in conference play, looms large with the postseason around the corner. Every game is important at this point with every team so tightly contested in the middle of the standings. 

In the Big Ten Tournament, the top 10 teams in the conference are given a bye in the first round, and the top four get an additional bye. It looks like a race between Purdue and Northwestern for the conference crown, but below those two, it’s anyone’s game (except for Minnesota and Ohio State, both dwelling quite comfortable in the basement of the standings). 

Izzo also provided an update on Cooper’s injury status. He missed Tuesday’s game against Indiana due to a low-ankle sprain suffered during practice. 

“This kid is number one tough and number two a quick healer,” Izzo said. “It really showed me a lot, because it was a pretty bad sprain.”

Cooper was last seen in a boot in warm-ups against the Hoosiers, but he participated in practice Thursday. Izzo said that Cooper could be ready as soon as Saturday.