Tom Izzo: These fixes can take No. 14 Michigan State basketball ‘from good to great’

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EAST LANSING – All season, Tom Izzo sensed Michigan State basketball could become a good team. Through a third of their season, the Spartans have proven him prescient.

The Spartans are coming off a second Big Ten road win, sitting at 3-0 in league play and 12-2 overall. They’re riding a seven-game win streak. They’ve moved to No. 14 in this week’s USA TODAY Coaches Poll.

They’re once again in contention for a conference championship – and maybe more.

Jan 3, 2025; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo during the second half against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Value City Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images

Now comes the second phase. The part where Izzo amplifies his messaging and boosts the delivery intensity to set his annual New Year’s directive in motion. An urging to take the next step in development.

“I do want to appreciate what we’ve done. I do think we’ve done a lot,” Izzo said Monday. “I do think we’ve played different ways. I think we’ve won different ways. We’ve shot it well, we’ve shot it poorly. We’ve rebounded well, we’ve rebounded average. We’ve turned it over nine times, we’ve turned it over 17 times.

“Somehow, those all got to come together. If they do, you go from good to great. And that’s kind of what we’re working on right now.”

RELATED: Couch: Coen Carr’s emerging game is a reason to believe in the possibilities for Michigan State’s basketball team

Going from good to great

When Izzo the taskmaster identifies items his players need to hone and improve upon, it makes for spirited practices. And MSU gets a few extra days – with classes not back in session and the Izzone alumni game up next – to fine-tune its deficiencies between Friday’s 69-62 grinder of a victory at Ohio State and Thursday’s first visit from Big Ten newcomer Washington (8 p.m./Big Ten Network).

Izzo and his players discussed the unknowns that come from playing the former Pac-12 school compared to the annually scouted conference…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/tom-izzo-fixes-no-14-125423455.html

Author : Lansing State Journal

Publish date : 2025-01-07 12:54:00

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