News and Notes from Spartan Basketball Including Recruiting Thoughts by Izzo…

Tom Izzo was happy yesterday after practice with the way his team got at it before heading to pay Bowling Green tonight. He said about the practice that,

Tom Izzo was happy yesterday after practice with the way his team got at it before heading to pay Bowling Green tonight. He said about the practice that, “Best practice we've had. I think a couple of things, we haven’t been executing as well and we just keep putting a premium on turnovers. We shot better because I think we're screening better and I think every coach in the country complains about that. We're just gonna have to spend more time, but I think guys know that if you don't win you're not gonna play. I think for this team it's a good problem to have.”

 

Izzo talked about a coach’s best weapon: They control playing time and the ability to threaten it. He said, “"Threatening playing time, but more importantly just making them understand that we lead the Big Ten in field goal percentage, we're leading in points allowed … you add that with the number of breakaway layups we've given them and we might be leading by five percent. Defensively we've probably been better than I've given them credit for when you think about the amount of turnovers for touchdown we've had that are 100 percent shots.”

 

Izzo was also enthused with the play of Branden Dawson and Derrick Nix after practice. He said, “"I thought he and BJ had their best practice today. Maybe I can thank you guys, or the pros that came back. Derrick has done a good job defensively but he hasn't been as good offensively. He was playing 29 minutes a game earlier with the injuries and settled into that kind of pace. For that part of it you can blame me. I think we realize now that 24-25 minutes will be a lot better and allow him to play harder longer. He asked to come out twice the last game and it was for good reasons.”

 

Having so many great alumni around last week for the alumni game still has Izzo pumped. Izzo was especially thrilled when those past guys take time to talk to his current group of cagers and share wisdom and stories. Izzo said, “"I was amazed after the alumni game. First of all every players stayed and they didn't have to. The guys were all out there, BJ and Nix. Morris grabbed BJ and I said, 'What did he say?' and he said 'We had a good talk.'

He went on to elaborate that, "I told Morris to tell him how hard the first year and a half was and Morris said, 'Do we have a week?' I'm not sure the impact it had, you'll have to ask them, but I think it had a big impact."

 

With Bowling Green tonight and Texas at home on Saturday before the Spartans kick off the B1G season, Izzo talked about the enormity. “I think this week is important for all of us. We have to start taking some serious steps forward. We've got practice time, we've got the ability to be together as a group and get to harp on some things. It's a big week for everyone. For Gary and Denzel as freshmen to go through finals, go through getting benched, all the little things. Mental toughness is exactly that. It’s not about what you do but how you respond. I thought Gary a couple of times I did pull him early responded well. You just don't think they understand the intensity you have to play with every minute. It's good for Gary, he responded and that's what you really want. If they respond to challenges that's really what coaches look for."

 

There is scheduled to be a full moon this week and with the awaiting announcement on Thursday of Jabari Parker, does Izzo see that as good news? Now please remember that due to NCAA rules Izzo can’t mention or speak of a specific player. "I always like a full moon. It gives you that once every so often chance. Really I have no comment because I have no clue."

 

Izzo has placed all of his 2013 eggs in one basket. That one basket is the aforementioned Jabari Parker. To his credit Izzo has worked his tail off to get the youngster. With Jabari’s choice up in the air does he regret going this hard and working this long for only one guy? "It's a big week. But in recruiting, sometimes, you have regrets either way. I have no regrets in what we've done in recruiting this year. We've decided to do it a certain way and we've done it that way. We didn't sign anybody early. I actually feel great about everything."