Wisconsin, Bob Knight and the Maestro Known as Tom Izzo are all Topics in this Weeks Look at College Basketball

Wisconsin has emerged to become the Spartans’ biggest rival during the Tom Izzo era. Every time these teams get together now, the games are personal, and

Wisconsin has emerged to become the Spartans’ biggest rival during the Tom Izzo era. 

Izzo handles his players like a maestro. Photo courtesy of Mark Boomgaard

Every time these teams get together now, the games are personal, and they seem to matter more than any other opponent the Spartans regularly face. Wisconsin, in this era, has become to MSU basketball what Notre Dame and Michigan have become to MSU football. Fortunately, MSU Basketball has developed “National” rivalries with the likes of Kentucky, Texas, Duke, UNC, and the like. But ever since MSU beat Wisconsin four times in the 2000 National Title season, including their Final Four matchup, the rivalry has elevated to another level. And ever since the arrival of Bo Ryan in Madison, the intensity and emotion has really taken off. 

The rivalry has evolved by surprise, looking back. I don’t remember many around the Spartan Nation in the late 90s that said, “yea…Wisconsin is going to be our number one rival on the hardwood over the next decade, just wait.” But look at where this rivalry is today. Perhaps the greatest thing about the evolution of this rivalry is that it’s come about the old fashion way, on the court. In an era when the Four Letter Network and other media factions work day and night to create rivalries out of thin air, it’s refreshing to see one naturally develop over ten years or so. Wisconsin and Michigan St. have become each other’s biggest basketball rival because they've played so many games now with big consequences attached. They've played games for Championships, games for tournament seeding, games for program building, and games for pride. 

From unnecessary dunks at the end of already decided games, to setting up banners in the rafters in anticipation of a post game celebration, Wisconsin games make memories. Whether it was a star player leaving a contest before the end with incredible cramps, or one of the best shooters in school history coming up empty on the foul line with a chance to lock down a Championship, these results have started to linger in legend. If it was MSU knocking off then # 1 Wisconsin at the Breslin (thanks in large part to the most amazing rim bounces on a late Drew Neitzel shot), or watching the Badgers flop their way to a Big Ten Tournament victory that cost the Spartans an avenue to the Final Four through Ford Field, each team has been on the good and bad side of the results. 

MSU is on top for the moment, after last night’s finish and last year’s momentum changing win in the Big Ten race. A late February ’09 second half comeback in front of the reunited 1979 Magical Spartans sent the Spartans into Championship gear, and exemplified the intensity and meaning of the MSU-Wisconsin rivalry. At half time of Wednesday night’s game, Tom Izzo was interviewed by the Big Ten Network as he walked towards the locker room. He was asked what he thought about playing the Badgers, and didn’t hide how he felt about the Bo Ryan “style” the Badgers implore. “We know they fall down and take charges if you breathe on them,” Izzo said in a candid moment of honesty. And from the game’s very first possession, fans could see what he was talking about. A Wisconsin defender immediately hit the floor like he had been sacked by an angry Ray Lewis when Raymar Morgan created initial contact with a dribble. The “flopper” tag that the Izzone has hung on Wisconsin is one of the little tidbits that helps make the rivalry special.

As a new decade in the rivalry began Wednesday, there’s no sign that MSU-Wisconsin is about to become mundane. Just look at what the Spartans’ Head Coach said at the half. Or put on the replay to watch the intense banging down low and the Defense this rivalry has become known for. Look back at Bo Ryan’s sneer and bark as the Badgers battled through to hang tight with Spartans. Or watch Tom Izzo’s reaction at the end of the game when Kalin Lucas was called for a phantom foul. On the whole, Wisconsin-Michigan St. games matter most on the schedule right now, and the rivalry should only get better as the years go on.  

Won’t you Please…Please, Help me?

Bob Knight was calling a game for ESPN a few weeks back when he said something that made heads turn across the nation. The General was breaking down a highlight when he said boldly that Help Defense was the most important thing in College Basketball. Watching Knight do live color commentary has been a regular basketball clinic that hard core fans have already come to love. But Help Defense? Really? 

“I think Bob’s right, because I think it’s hard to cover certain guys one on one, and I think you’ve gotta have a team concept,” Tom Izzo told Spartan Nation earlier this week. “We’ve always been a pretty good Help Defense team, but where were lacking a little bit right now is that Suton was the best at communicating.” Izzo said that effective Help Defense is born out of communication on the floor. 

“I always remember Jud Heathcote talking about Magic Johnson…he was good at telling people what to do…but I think Antonio Smith was the best I ever had, and Suton was a poor man’s Smith.” Izzo said. And while he faces the obvious challenge of replacing Suton and defensive legend Travis Walton with inexperienced youth, he sees signs of the Spartans’ Help Defense tightening up.

“Usually good Help Defense has a leader on the back line that can see everything and communicate it…When I’ve got Draymond Green in there, he does the best job of that,” Izzo said. Yet, when the season gets deeper into Conference play and eventually into “one and done” tournament time, Help Defense is often a determining factor in who survives to advance. “We’re still a work in progress…,” Izzo reminded Spartan Nation. Safe to say Coach Knight probably thinks it’ll be a big key to the Spartans’ success from here.

Role With it, Baby

As we discussed last week, the Spartans are still working to find their team identity. It appears that progress has been made since then, as both the players and Head Coach have said their chemistry has improved, and their collective focus is settling in. But it remains extremely important that they continue to make strides as we approach the middle of January, because there’s still work to do. 

“I don’t think I’ve got this team yet where they do understand their roles, or where I’ve given them their roles,” Tom Izzo admitted to Spartan Nation earlier this week. Earlier in the season the Spartans appeared to suffer a bit because players either didn’t know their roles, or in some cases, seemed to fight from accepting them completely. You could watch the team play and see players try to do a few things they either couldn’t, or really shouldn’t in the general boundaries of their team concept. 

“To give a guy a role, a guy’s kinda got to earn that role, and want the role,” Izzo said. “I think Kalin knows his role, I think Durrell and Chris are really learning theirs, and I think Raymar and Draymond are starting to learn theirs,” he added. The development of Draymond Green as a leader and difference maker for the Spartans is something that Izzo thinks should only get better with time. “I think Draymond is starting to realize he could be the best 6th man in the College Basketball and he’s starting to play that way…and using it to his advantage.”

Though some progress has been made, there’s still a spot in the middle of the court that needs to be solidified as the stretch run approaches. “I’m trying to find guys…with the two bigs...I’m just not sure what we’ve got yet,” Izzo said. As the Big Ten schedule plays out, the Spartans will figure out just what they’ve got in the youthful middle for this year, and hopefully how to use it. 

Teams that win Championships and make runs, play together. And teams that play together put the team’s interests ahead of their own. That concept can really only be realized if players understand and fully accept their roles. Izzo has consistently found a way to define the roles of his players, and then inspire his teams to buy into the team concept, better than any College Basketball Coach in the last fifteen years. Last year’s epic run was perhaps the best example yet. “I don’t think we’re far off,” Izzo noted. “…I just don’t think we’re there yet.”