Indiana University Athletics
Michigan State Head Coach Tom Izzo Quotes
2/26/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 26, 2006
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Indiana vs. Michigan State
February 26, 2006
Michigan State Head Coach Tom Izzo Quotes
Michigan State Head Coach Tom Izzo
Opening Statement:
TI: "I am proud of our guys for not giving in the second half. I thought we out played them in every facet of the game from rebounding, to defending , to shooting, other than making a few plays. It's been a little hard on Drew Neitzel and Travis Walton. They've been playing a lot of minutes and playing out of position. We lost Paul (Davis) on that call that was a tough play because we were going in to him. He was finally taking the ball to the basket instead of taking the fade shot, and I thought he was getting more dominating down the stretch. We didn't execute, and it was more out of fatigue. As far a Drew was concerned, I think he has been playing 39 to 40 minutes a game. It's hard to expect more. I expected more in the first half. I thought Indiana played awfully well in the first half, but I thought we didn't play very well. We missed some laup opportunities and missed some good shots that we had. We shoot almost 50 percent against a good defensive team. We just couldn't get it done down the stretch."
On forcing plays with Drew Neitzel:
TI: "I would have liked to have the ball in (Maurice) and Shannon's hands then because he was just so tired plus (Maurice) was having a great game. We were bringing him off some screens, and he got some good looks. I don't have any complaints there, but we didn't execute. We didn't execute as well in the last three minutes, and it hurt when Paul went out with four and a half minutes left. We were running everything through him, and it was kind of fun to do for once. I thought our players did a good job of it. He did a good job of staying in there. We just couldn't do that once he went out. They were really able to cheat off some guys, and make it more difficult. I think it was partly their defense and partly our average execution."
On Paul Davis not starting second half:
TI: "I wanted to make a point to Paul that he has to take the ball to the basket. He has to quit shooting those fade shots. I guess I haven't done a very good job of that this year, and so I reverted back to a role that I know best. It was hey you got two fouls, and we thought they were going to go inside right away. We wanted him to sit and watch for three or four minutes and figure out that you can't shoot anymore fade shots. It was a little bit on the fouls because I knew they were going to go right into him. It was a little bit on Paul taking view and understanding that if he takes it to them. I thought he did a phenomenal job the second half."
On the bench scoring:
TI: "We don't have a great bench, I told you that in September. We don't have a great scoring bench, but there are a lot of teams that don't have great benches. They have to play their roles. Their roles are to screen, to rebound and to little things. Travis Walton was done an unbelievable job of playing his role. Today, he wasn't quite as sharp. The kid is playing four positions right now and that makes it more difficult. You know this is the type of team we have. It's not going to change. What we have to change is being more consistent defensively and quit turning the ball over in stretches. Fourteen for the game is not ridiculous, five in the second half is phenomenal. Nine in the first half against a team that doesn't really press was a shame. That led to some easy breakaway buckets, and they did a good job of going into (Marco) Killingsworth early. I thought Mike (Davis) had a good game plan. It was successful. We had to put Paul on (Robert) Vaden, which was a decent matchup. He scored 21 and got a few late. He is a real good player."
On wanting the ball in Maurice Ager's hands down the stretch:
TI: "I don't think (Maurice) was as tired as some of the other guys. We just had some breakdowns. We wanted to go to him, but you have to give Indiana some credit on that. We didn't want to have him with the ball in his hands the whole time. We wanted to bring him off some screens because it was very effective early. We were really working to (Maurice) and Paul's side and it was very effective for a stretch. (Indiana) did a good job of cheating a bit toward Delco's (Rowley) side with him setting screens. That was a great job on Indiana's part."
On Indiana:
TI: "This is still a very good Indiana team. I know a lot of people don't want to hear that, but they did a good job today. It is a very good basketball team. They have some key guys. (Marshall) Strickland is playing well, (Robert) Vaden is as good as anyone in this league and (Marco) Killingsworth has a handle inside. I still think this is going to be a dangerous team in the Big Ten Tournament, and I am still hoping they will get into the NCAA Tournament."
