Tom Izzo Rips Michigan State’s Effort After UConn Loss

Tom Izzo was not pleased with what he saw from his Michigan State Spartans on Tuesday night, and he made that abundantly clear following a disappointing 78-70 exhibition loss to No. 4 UConn at the Breslin Center.

Despite entering the 2026-27 season ranked No. 6 nationally, Michigan State struggled offensively, failed to match UConn’s physicality, and left its longtime head coach questioning the team’s performance in front of a packed home crowd.

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For Izzo, the biggest disappointment wasn’t necessarily the final score. It was how his team responded to the challenge.

Michigan State’s head coach Tom Izzo, left, and UConn’s head coach Dan Hurley shake hands before the exhibition game on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. Credit: USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect (Reuters)

Tom Izzo Calls Out Michigan State’s Physicality vs. UConn

Following the loss, Izzo didn’t hesitate to criticize his team’s effort and toughness against Dan Hurley’s Huskies.

“I was really disappointed with our physicality, especially screening,” Izzo told reporters following the game. “That’s his forte: they are physical. They were more physical than us, so that’ll be something fun to work on over the next couple of days.”

Those words should get the attention of every player in Michigan State’s locker room.

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Physicality, rebounding, and defensive intensity have long been trademarks of Izzo’s most successful teams. Being outmuscled, particularly on their home floor, isn’t something the veteran coach is willing to overlook.

The Spartans were already facing significant expectations after opening the season ranked No. 6 in the AP preseason poll, and Tuesday’s performance provided an early reminder that preseason rankings mean little without execution.

Izzo Says Spartans Let Their Fans Down

Perhaps Izzo’s most pointed criticism came when he discussed the thousands of Michigan State fans who showed up to support the team.

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“We just weren’t as aggressive, and…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/tom-izzo-rips-michigan-state-142224861.html

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Publish date : 2026-10-21 14:22:00

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