Michigan State Coach Tom Izzo Has Message For Ohio State Fans Amid Losing Streak
The Ohio State Buckeyes' season has been less than enjoyable.
Ohio State finds itself losers of six in a row and 11 of the last 12 and social media rumors have swirled around the direction the program will move with head coach Chris Holtmann for next season.
Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo said he doesn't "know what fans should expect" with the basketball program after he thought head coach Ryan Day was going to be "hung in" after losing to the Michigan Wolverines Nov. 26, 2022.
Izzo had a message Sunday for those in Buckeye Nation growing restless with how the season has gone.
"I would tell fans, 'Be a little patient.' If the recruiting quit going and this and that, I guess I'd be a little more upset," Izzo said. "I do think he's a good coach. He's not my best friend; I'm not sticking up for my brother. I am sticking up for coaches because I don't think anybody has any idea how difficult this is."
Izzo said the past three years have been "very difficult." He pointed to various ripple effects from COVID-19 — including players having five and six years of eligibility playing against players "that are 24 sometimes" — the transfer portal and issues with NIL that make a coach's job harder than before.
The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee said the Buckeyes have been in "dogfights right down to the end" this season.
"Listen, he's had two great recruiting classes. I think he'll rally those freshmen, and it's hard to mix everybody together. That's what I think.
"If you win, you did the right thing. If you lose, you did the wrong thing," Izzo said.
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