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MSU basketball: Video analysis of the Spartans’ win over New Mexico
Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch, Freep MSU beat writer Chris Solari and Freep columnist Shawn Windsor discuss MSU’s win over New Mexico.
Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo’s coaching staff is full of familiar faces, including former players and longtime colleagues.Izzo has relied heavily on his assistants during the NCAA tournament due to the short preparation time between games.
EAST LANSING — When Tom Izzo looks down his bench or across the table in meetings, he doesn’t simply see the many faces of new assistants.
He gets a glimpse of his coaching past.
Thomas Kelley? As an assistant coach, Izzo recruited the guard from his Grand Rapids high school to Michigan State basketball. They reached the Final Four together in 1999.
Austin Thornton? He, too, played for Izzo in two Final Fours, including the 2009 national championship game.
Jon Borovich? He got to know Izzo when he was 15 years old, when MSU was recruiting AAU teammates Charlie Bell, Shane Battier and Dane Fife.
Even newcomer Saddi Washington, who arrived during the offseason, has known Izzo since he was a teen in the early 1990s before he went on to star at Western Michigan and play professionally.
While Izzo’s longtime confidante Doug Wojcik won the Big Ten’s assistant coach of the year award and has served as his boss’ right-hand man during games this season, the Spartans’ other four assistant coaches — all under 50 — have brought youthful perspective for 70-year-old Izzo.
Along with a near-lifetime of relationships with them all.
“What do they say, six degrees of separation? There’s always some connection,” Kelley said after practice Tuesday, with MSU three days away from tipping off its Sweet 16 appearance. “And coach likes that familiarity.”
And when it comes to NCAA…
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Publish date : 2025-03-27 12:15:00
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