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Tom Izzo fires jab at Kansas City Chiefs while lamenting Michigan State turnovers vs. Michigan

ns_headshot_2024-clearby:Nick Schultz•02/22/25•

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Michigan State HC Tom Izzo
Nick King | Lansing State Journal | USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

In the first half of Friday’s victory over Michigan, Michigan State struggled with turnovers. The Spartans turned the ball over nine times before halftime but did so just twice after the break to come away with a huge rivalry win.

The difference, Tom Izzo said afterward, was Michigan State was getting out too far ahead of its skis. But as he broke it down, the Kansas City Chiefs caught a stray.

Izzo pointed out what happens when teams turn the ball over, using the Chiefs as an example after their performance in Super Bowl LIX. Although Michigan did some good things to force the turnovers, he said Michigan State had to slow down a bit, and the Spartans did just that after halftime.

“Went old school on them and threatened them at halftime,” Izzo said in his postgame press conference. “Turnovers, I give them credit for some of them, I give us blame for a lot of them. We just talked, we were trying to go too fast. We wanted to be quick, but don’t hurry, as the saying goes. And we weren’t quick and did hurry, and we turned the ball over.

“It was turnovers that did lead to touchdowns. Those are bad turnovers. Just ask the Kansas City Chiefs. Those don’t work in sports.”

Michigan scored nine points off the nine Michigan State turnovers in the first half of Friday’s game to eventually take a 38-34 lead into the locker room. But the Spartans locked in after the break, and the Wolverines scored just two points off turnovers while MSU was able to capitalize with 10 points off eight UM miscues in the final 20 minutes.

That proved to be the recipe for a big-time win. Michigan State took over first place in the Big Ten as a result of the victory, knocking Michigan out of the top spot while also handing the Wolverines their first home loss of the season. To Tom Izzo, that made a rivalry win on the road even more special.

“There’s nothing better than getting your rival on their home floor,” Izzo said. “You know, that’s just the way it is, and they’re going to get a chance to do that to us now coming up. But you know, I think our guys prepared very well. I was really concerned, two day prep with those big guys, and the way they run that pick and roll for each other. They’re very good at it. I thought we did a decent job.”