Tom Izzo quotes on rivalry with UM

Submitted by gebe659 on

Some quotes, courtesy of Joe Rexrode's twitter account:

Izzo on first ranked game since 1998: "It's hard to believe. ... It's been kind of a rollercoaster for both teams. Good for rivalry, state."

Izzo said Burke is different than Morris in that Burke does a bit more scoring than setting up.

Izzo: "I don't like anything about Michigan and they don't like anything about us, that's the way it should be."

Izzo: "Do I respect John Beilein? Tremendously. Do I respect U-M? Tremendously. Do I like them? Not one bit."

Izzo said Duke-UNC is a great rivalry because it's a coin flip every year. "I'm cool with that," he said, "I just want to win more flips."

MGoBoard

M-Wolverine

January 16th, 2012 at 2:17 PM ^

Cleaves comes out with 4 minutes left. I don't think he was guarding against the 60 point comeback.  They're jacking 3's with a minutes left, and throwing alley-oop passes for dunks with under a minute left, rather than running out the clock.

And they technically only beat Iowa State by 11, but they also dodged anyone of consequence in the Final Four because the team that was #1 most of the season, Cinncy, had their best player Kenyon Martin out, and Wisconsin (an 8 seed) and Florida (a 5) in the Final Four, never having to play Arizona, Stanford, or Duke.  Not exactly a recipe for close games.

Joined: 10/04/2009

MGoPoints: 42190

bluewave720

January 16th, 2012 at 2:35 PM ^

we start consistently winning more than 50% of the games against MSU.  Especially if we remain nationally relevant.

I respect that he's been successful without any real sniff of cheating.  However, as a man, I don't respect how he handles defeat.  He comes off as the stereotypical sore loser.  That's fine too, I mean, it's not illegal.  I just wish people would recognize it more often when they are talking about how "classy" he is.

 

Joined: 07/17/2009

MGoPoints: 6517

lunchboxthegoat

January 16th, 2012 at 1:50 PM ^

I respect the hell out of Izzo. I would be proud to call him my coach had he somehow ended up at M instead of MSU when he started. Unfortunately, he coaches for the bad guys. Love his programs, solid, consistent winner with a clean program. Dislike the school, the fan base and even some of the alums but Izzo is one of the bright spots at that university. 

Joined: 10/07/2008

MGoPoints: 4865

bronxblue

January 16th, 2012 at 2:13 PM ^

This is why I always respected Izzo - guy has a certain level of class and understanding that seems foreign to the other coach at MSU.  He has made MSU an elite program, and he's good for both the programs and the state in general.

All that said, let's mess them up tomorrow.

Joined: 11/22/2008

MGoPoints: 171026

BraveWolverine730

January 16th, 2012 at 2:41 PM ^

Do I respect him as a coach? Of course, you'd have to be an idiot to argue against his results. However, I have little to no respect for how he handles losing and I don't like him at all. I don't really understand why he gets so much love around here. 

Joined: 09/21/2009

MGoPoints: 4188

Lampuki22

January 16th, 2012 at 3:05 PM ^

growing up..even in the UP.  I know I"ve heard him say that Bo was one of his idols and a great role model. 

If I'm wrong then I'm wrong but that would be my guess.  So he says he hates us but I'm not sure he acts too much like he does.

Joined: 09/16/2009

MGoPoints: 7298

MGoSoftball

January 16th, 2012 at 5:28 PM ^

the best 4th ref on the court.  He cries and whines until he gets the call he wants.  Is that hate?  idk.  I dont respect him for that; however, he doesnt dog us out like Dam-tonio does.

Joined: 10/18/2010

MGoPoints: 8892

antidaily

January 16th, 2012 at 5:51 PM ^

Izzo is a clown sometimes. I respect him but what the hell is he talking about bringing up 90s recruiting battles and Ed Martin? As if MSU didnt benefit for the next ten years because of it. Shit, Ed Martin was the best fucking thing to happen to Izzo.

Joined: 05/21/2009

MGoPoints: 7506

michfan4borw

January 16th, 2012 at 8:38 PM ^

http://s1056.photobucket.com/albums/t363/SpartanElement/Snapbucket/?action=view&current=23AF2ED5.jpg 

 

Izzo took a quote from THJ stating that "We're just trying to come out there and just be the tougher team" and posted it at practice to motivate his team by changing the quote to "'We're going to come out and be the tougher team tomorrow.' --Tim Hardaway"

 

Surprising?  No.  Izzo constantly tries to motivate his players with psychology (usually by talking to the media) and misstatements.  Other BS I dislike about Izzo follows:

Izzo crying about the layup by Morris after last year's loss.

Cousins crying . . .  (oops, spartans crying makes me think of Kirk).

Izzo crying hysterically to the refs on any--nay every--call that goes against MSU.

Izzo crying for NBA attention to later announce himself a "spartan for life."

 

Yes, I'm sure that I definitely do not like Izzo.   I respect his wins, but I do not respect his personality/coaching.

THJ's interview seemed entirely respectful; the same can't be said about Sparty.  THJ said he's heard all summer (perhaps from Appling or D. Green) that Michigan's wins last year were a fluke and that Sparty lost due to its emotional problems.

 

GTFO my court!

Joined: 12/11/2009

MGoPoints: 882

HAIL 2 VICTORS

January 16th, 2012 at 6:29 PM ^

Tom Izzo        

                                                                         

Rumpelstiltskin

Joined: 12/01/2009

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