What MSU's Tom Izzo Said Ahead of Home Clash vs. UCLA
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EAST LANSING, Mich. --- Michigan State really, really needs this one.
The 15th-ranked Spartans have lost three of their last four, but head coach Tom Izzo isn't hitting any panic buttons yet. MSU lost to Wisconsin by 21 its last time out on Friday, and while Izzo isn't pleased with how his team performed overall in that game, he also doesn't think many teams would have won on that particular night in Madison.
"We're not the greatest team that I've had," Izzo said on Monday. "I've said that many times. Our margin for error is very small, but we've lost maybe one game this year [against Minnesota] that [the media] thought we should have won. Maybe we were picked at Wisconsin --- I have no idea, I don't gamble. But, for the most part, one game. Considering the schedule we played, I think that's damn good."
Izzo both expanded on his thoughts on his team's shortcomings against Wisconsin, but also talked a lot about Tuesday's game against UCLA (8:30 p.m. ET, Peacock), which will include the return of former MSU player Xavier Booker. You can watch Izzo's entire press conference below:
Watch Tom Izzo here:
Izzo on Friendship with UCLA's Cronin
One of the things that came up with Izzo's ongoing friendship with UCLA head coach Mick Cronin. The two of them are among the most experienced head coaches in the Big Ten. Cronin has been the Bruins' head coach since 2019, but he was also the head coach at Murray State from 2003-06 and, more notably, the head guy at Cincinnati from 2006-19.
The two of them are two of the more old-school coaches out there, too. Both Izzo and Cronin are tougher, hard-nosed coaches who aren't going to go easy on their players and are probably not names college basketball officials look forward to facing.
"He's always done a great job," Izzo said about Cronin. "He's a different bird, but I think he does it the right way, and I think he holds people accountable like nobody I know. I mean, my press conferences are boring compared to his. I watch his [pressers] just to get excited.
"So, why do I like him? Because I think he says what he's supposed to say. I think he does what he's supposed to do, and I think he's tougher than nails. The kids play hard. And he's had good teams and he's had average teams --- [he] coaches them the same way."
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A 2025 graduate from Michigan State University, Cotsonika brings a wealth of experience covering the Spartans from Rivals and On3 to his role as Michigan State Spartans Beat Writer on SI. At Michigan State, he was also a member of the world-renowned Spartan marching band for two seasons.
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