Izzo Still Isn’t Satisfied at Center After Duke Win

Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo met with the media Thursday ahead of the Spartans’ game against Northern Iowa, and even after beating Duke 79-73 two nights earlier he went right back to the same sore spot. In a video posted by SpartanMag, Izzo called the center position his team’s biggest weakness, then went through the rotation of Anton Bonke, Jesse McCulloch and Ethan Taylor one by one.

“Still our weakness is the center position. You know, Anton (Bonke) is probably doing more than we give him credit for. He’s averaging seven rebounds a game in 15 minutes of play, which is phenomenal. Did a better job on the ball screens,” Izzo said. “Jesse (McCulloch) is doing more and more. You know, he gives us the pick and pop ability. He’s doing more and more. But Ethan (Taylor) probably has the most overall length, size, athleticism, and talent, and we’re going to get it out of him, and it’s gonna take a little time.”

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Tom Izzo Says Ethan Taylor Gets In His Own Way

Taylor is averaging 12 minutes off the bench in the Spartans’ first three games but has flashed solid play in the limited time. He is averaging 4.7 points and three rebounds a game while shooting 80% from the field. Against Duke, Taylor had five points in just eight minutes of action, limited by foul trouble. Izzo thinks the main thing holding him back is his own head.

“Ethan’s (Taylor) gonna be a really good player if he can get out of his own way right now. You know, he gets down on himself. He doesn’t get down on us. He gets down on himself, and yet makes some good plays,” Izzo said. “He’s got the quickness to be able to cover ball screens, he’s got the strength, he’s 255, he’s intelligent, he’s got all the things going for him except, I’d say, his biggest negative is he struggles on how to take coaching, but he also struggles on how to approach things himself.”

Not Every Player Is Held To The Same Standard

In the first week of games, the Spartans ran past Quinnipiac 96-59 and Toledo 91-61, and Izzo still was…

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Publish date : 2026-11-13 00:50:00

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