AlaskanYeti

February 23rd, 2014 at 3:43 PM ^

He has reason to complain since Staee has had to play without it's All-American big man....oh wait?....that's us! Here's a tissue Izzo. No one cares!

Avon Barksdale

February 23rd, 2014 at 3:48 PM ^

Blaming December injuries on a February loss. I blame Mitch McGary for the Iowa loss. Maybe Michigan State just isn't a tough basketball team. Has anyone thought of that?



Appling "battling" through a wrist injury for two months, Dawson hit a table too hard, Harris misses three games for an injury Stauskas played through?



I'm just of the thought Sparty needs to toughen up a little.

LSAClassOf2000

February 23rd, 2014 at 3:48 PM ^

In my line of employment, rarely are power issues timely or poetic (and I know that, at worst, it was a building issue since other things were working), so it was nice to see something like this happen for a change, and it couldn't happen to a more appropriate person than Tom Izzo. Indeed, the lights did go out, Tom, so it might be time to head back to East Lansing now. 

JimBobTressel

February 23rd, 2014 at 3:59 PM ^

"Let's get the rivalry REALLY going." Direct quote from Izzo, pounding the table after the "Get Off My Court" game in 2011

BlueinLansing

February 23rd, 2014 at 4:02 PM ^

the way Izzo handled the media.  He was honest, direct and didnt' bs about anything.  But as he's grown older he's become more of an excuse machinge, the exact kind of excuses he used to accuse Michigan of using early in his career when he was trying to knock off this state's top dog from its pedastal.

 

He wanted a rivalry and now he's got one and apparently he doesn't like it.

Dr. Explosion

February 23rd, 2014 at 4:07 PM ^

In my opinion, he's saying what he needs to in I order to keep his team's confidence up and keep them believing that they can make a run. Coaches have to manage the collective psyche of their team and he is keeping the belief alive that, when healthy, they can heat anybody.

MaizeAndBlueWahoo

February 23rd, 2014 at 4:20 PM ^

Yes, he's doing a great job.

Keith Appling, who has been dealing with a wrist problem, scored only six points for Michigan State. 

"Yeah, I fell on the wrist again, but I couldn't come out of the game," Appling said. "It's very frustrating right now, because there are things I just can't do, but I can't let that be an excuse. I'm the quarterback of this team, like coach always says, and I have to be out there leading."

Indeed his team's psyche is reflective of his own.  Your point is well taken, but instead of creating a team of positive thinkers I think he's managed to create a team of guys who let their obstacles get into their heads.

In contrast, Beilein has made the focus about the guys who are on the court instead of the guys who aren't, and they've responded in kind.

snarling wolverine

February 23rd, 2014 at 4:46 PM ^

I don't think Izzo has changed.  He was always pretty bitchy whenever Bo Ryan beat him.  We just didn't pay as much attention because it rarely happened against us.  And he's always whined about injuries and guys leaving early.  He blamed numerous losses on Erazem Lorbek's departure.

 

 

Tater

February 23rd, 2014 at 8:02 PM ^

Tom Izzo can't admit to himself that he isn't a "great" coach unless Michigan is self-destructing.  Now that John Beilen has made it impossible for Izzo to walk into living rooms, say "Fab Five Scandal" and eliminate Michigan as a recruiting foe, Izzo has to work for his players.  

Izzo is still the same coach, but he isn't getting as many great players.  Since he coaches the same way, he expects the same results and has to scrape the bottom of the barrel for excuses when he doesn't get them.

Imagine how bad Sparty would have been the last two years if Izzo had done the right thing with Appling and Payne.

Izzo has actually done a great job of beating other teams this year.  I am wondering if he is smart enough to understand that his value on the free market will probably never be higher than after this year.  I also wonder if Tom Gores has already talked to Izzo.  It wouldn't surprise me. 

Mgodiscgolfer

February 23rd, 2014 at 4:18 PM ^

Time to fire Izzo.  +1 to everyone, sweeping Staee,and threir not in a transitional period. Its a beautiful thing....GO BLUE!!!

 

EDIT I keep getting 503ed to death it took me ten min to give the guys above me a +1

jsquigg

February 23rd, 2014 at 4:44 PM ^

I don't want them to fire Izzo.  I don't even want him in the NBA.  Imagine the excuse factory after he leaves when M continues to dominate.  I want to beat Sparty with what many think is the best college basketball coach this state has had.  Also, if you are a recruit and you look at coach B and how he handles himself compared to Izzo, how can you not like M more unless you're a legacy Sparty?  Izzo calls a TO and then rips into his players.  When Michigan calls a TO you usually see calm teaching.  At their pressers Belein constantly gives the other team credit and refuses to even answer questions that lead into an excuse.  Izzo is an excuse factory with token credit given.  Right now Belein owns Izzo and I hope it continues.

Njia

February 23rd, 2014 at 4:35 PM ^

I happened to createfind Izzo's script of excuses. Watch for these imagined lines next time:

"My guys are really battling out there but no one is at 100%. You add up 50-75% of each guy and it's like playing only 3-4 guys on the floor at a time."

"I don't want to make excuses, but the bathroom on the team bus backed up on the trip here. Between the smell and my guys having to 'hold it' for so long, I think a few of them are really suffering."

"You know, allergy season is a real problem for some of my guys. Appling has got a real issue with blood shot eyes. Valentine's got a real bad case of the sniffles.*

freejs

February 23rd, 2014 at 4:42 PM ^

Oh my. And I was already saving up the tape of the wee man crying like I had dinner reservations for something delicious.

Sounds like this is gonna be extra entertaining.