It’s been one day since an emotional Tom Izzo addressed the media following his team’s 32-point victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff, where the head coach promised his playing rotation would be shortened. After watching the film, a more subdued Izzo hadn’t changed his stance.
The MSU women’s basketball team (8-0) has accomplished more with their backs against the wall this year than was expected of them, and now they have another obstacle to hurdle when they take on No. 19 Dayton at 1 p.m. Saturday in Dayton, Ohio.
Before the No. 19 MSU basketball team took the floor Wednesday against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Tom Izzo vowed he’d have a much fairer evaluation of his team than he did on Saturday against Nicholls State. But even after the No. 19 Spartans thoroughly routed the Golden Lions on Wednesday evening at Breslin Center, the veteran head coach didn’t like what he saw.
Holding an opponent scoreless for the opening 10 minutes of a game, as part of a 32-point victory would have most basketball coaches excited. But Wednesday night, Tom Izzo was anything but.
There was a distinct holiday flavor in the air at Breslin Center on Wednesday, as the Izzone student section taunted visiting Arkansas-Pine Bluff with Christmas songs for much of the evening. Unfortunately, the No. 19 MSU basketball team wasn’t exactly in the mood for gift giving.
As is the case for many college basketball teams this time of year, there still are kinks to be worked out by head coach Tom Izzo and the No. 19 MSU basketball team. However, in the nonconference season, aside from a few games, it’s often hard to find a fair point of evaluation.
When the MSU women’s basketball team lost to Notre Dame on Dec. 11, 1999, it already was off to the best start in program history.
In 17 years of coaching, MSU women’s basketball head coach Suzy Merchant has never experienced something like she has this season.
Nearly two weeks ago, Tom Izzo tried to shake things up, but fate wouldn’t let him.
After a stressful opening month to the season that began with the No. 13 MSU men’s basketball team (6-2) traveling across the pond to Germany, flying to Atlanta four days later to face the then No. 7 team in the country, then playing a stretch of four games in one week, the Spartans needed a laugher, and Saturday they got one.
The game was over and Milwaukee wanted to leave the floor, but glass lying across the court stood in their path, leaving the Panthers didn’t know what to do. A light bulb in Breslin Center appeared to have shattered in fitting fashion: the Spartans had shot the lights out and Milwaukee didn’t have an answer.
For just the second time in school history, the MSU women’s basketball team is 7-0 after demolishing Milwaukee (3-4) 81-50 on Saturday evening.
It was a total team effort as the MSU women’s basketball team improved to 7-0 for only the second time in program history with a 81-50 win over Milwaukee (3-3) on Saturday.
Earlier in the week, the No. 13 MSU basketball team was paid a visit by a familiar face.
After nearly a week of sluggish and generally ineffective play, the MSU men’s basketball team needed a strong showing to get its swagger back. Playing against Nicholls State on Saturday at Breslin Center, an energetic performance including having four players in double-figures gave the team that chance.
It was a night filled with career and season highs as the MSU women’s basketball team defeated North Carolina State 68-51 in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge to improve to 6-0 for the fourth time in program history.
Even in the clouds of defeat, the MSU basketball team has found its silver lining.
The first NCAA statistical report was released Monday, and the MSU women’s basketball team (5-0) statistically has the nation’s best defense, allowing just 37.4 points per game.
Faced with the challenge of an opponent he’s never seen before, head coach Tom Izzo has sought out an old friend for help: Brian Gregory. The former MSU assistant coach and current Georgia Tech head coach has been one of the people Izzo has turned to in preparing for the annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge, which began Tuesday night and continues when the No. 13 MSU men’s basketball team (5-1) heads to Miami to take on the Hurricanes (3-1) tonight (7:30 p.m., ESPN).
Since naming senior center Derrick Nix and sophomore guard Russell Byrd as co-team captains at the team’s media day in October, head coach Tom Izzo has seen leadership emerge from several different places across the roster.