News and Notes from Spartan Basketball: End of the Year Edition with Tom Izzo
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Tom Izzo sat down with the media today to recap the Spartans, "Disappointing" 2010-2011 campaign. Photo courtesy of Starr Portice.
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News and Notes from Spartan Basketball
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Today Tom Izzo sat down with the media and spoke for over one hour on the record. Here are some of the highlights.Â
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“It was a disappointing season based on our final record.â€
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Why was this team inconsistent? “We had no rotation.â€
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On what good can come out of the season? “Failure drives you a little more than success.â€
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Looking back would he have done anything different? “I probably wouldn’t have red shirted Gauna.â€
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On possibly adding another recruit for 2011?  “We would look at one more guy, not sure big or small, be we won’t just fill a spot.â€
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How bad was the season? “It wasn’t a disaster.â€
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On the team moving forward? “They’ve been through playing in front of 75,000 in Detroit, and losing in the first round.â€
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On late night NCAA games? “Those late nights are killers, guess that’s why we can’t have a college (football) playoff. We might miss school.â€
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Was he able to enjoy the season? “I enjoyed getting kicked in the teeth this year. I really have…I said I think our fans needed to be humbled, our media needed to be humbled. I needed to be humbled.â€
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He said after the Texas game he enjoyed turmoil, does he still? “I do. I do.â€
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On UM getting back to winning in basketball: “The best thing for Michigan State is Michigan good. They had a hell of a year. They did a great job. John is a very good coach. It’s been a weird rivalry. They’ve had their times of being real good and we’ve had our times.â€
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Has the MSU/UM gap closed in basketball? “Has it in football? It doesn’t matter if the gap has been closed. Do they have a good team? Yes. A good program? Yes. Nobody cares where anyone was, where are you today.â€
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On the rivalry? “Is the rivalry on? Yes it’s on. I am looking forward to it.â€
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On a foreign trip this summer? “This might be the year. Not big on the European thing.â€Â
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The best part of a trip? “Practice time, but the games aren’t that good.â€
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On a Canadian trip? “We are exploring that and there is a good chance will be doing something.â€Â When? “August.â€
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On how he has changed? “Everyone goes through fazes. Of my 16 years (as a head coach) this was my most mellowest.â€
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“I almost had to change my personality. I take a lot of blame for this season. If I had to do it over again I wouldn’t have done it much differently. You can’t be who you are not.â€
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On NCAA rules limiting contact hurt? “I think we should be able to call guys all the time. At least be able to call them.  Talk to them.â€
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On Draymond: “It’s got to be the seniors team. He (Day-Day) is the best at keeping up with the former players. He respects, admires and loves that.â€
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On Day Day being a leader: “He has to understand what they (former players) did. He has to talk with them (current players) and not down to them.â€Â