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Michigan State

Tom Izzo reacts to opportunity to play Rutgers in Madison Square Garden

IMG_6598by:Nick Kosko•02/07/23•

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(Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)

Rutgers (16-7) took down Michigan State (14-9) 61-55 at Madison Square Garden Friday to get back into the top 25. Spartans coach Tom Izzo relished the opportunity to play in the mecca of basketball.

Despite the loss, it was a great experience for Michigan State. However, Izzo noted it was still an advantage for Rutgers since New York City is just a quick train ride away from campus.

Izzo spoke in detail about what it meant to play against the No. 24 Scarlet Knights over the weekend.

“Yeah, I think it’s an awesome idea,” Izzo said of playing at Madison Square Garden. “I’m not sure, it’s really a coin flip for others. You know, (Rutgers has) one of the toughest places to play. But we’ve done that a little bit out of the Detroit (area). I don’t know how far is this from Rutgers …  But that’s close. I mean, we’re 90 miles (Detroit) and we played some big non conference games down there …

“It’s great for our fans. It’s a little bit good for recruiting. I think this will help recruiting but let’s face it, there’s not a pro guy, you ask him where his favorite place to play is, it’s Madison Square Garden.”

Izzo noted how Madison Square Garden was the gold standard to play basketball.

“And I told the guys that,” Izzo said. “You get a chance to play basketball (here) and you kind of hope these guys play in so many different venues and so many different things, I don’t think they look at it the same as me. I was more excited than that. Playing up in northern Michigan on the banks of Lake Superior wasn’t the same as Madison Square Garden, but I do think it’s good for the league. 

“I do think it’s good for Rutgers … I thought they had a hell of a crowd there … But I think for Ben Ten basketball, it’s to get you in the major media city and so I think it’s good.”

Now that it’s in the rearview mirror, Michigan State has to bounce back following that loss. Izzo and the Spartans won’t be playing in Madison Square Garden for the next one.

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Michigan State takes on Maryland at home Tuesday at 9:00 p.m. ET.