Tom Izzo recalls where Michigan State let Michigan game get away

Michigan State fell on the road this weekend against rival Michigan in an 84-72 contest where the Spartans’ typically strong defense simply did not show up. With both squads boasting decent defensive units, especially in the case of MSU, a shootout into the 80s wasn’t what was expected. Yet the Wolverines simply got hot down the stretch and Tom Izzo’s club ultimately could not keep up despite holding a multiple-possession lead at one point in the second half.

“I think we were up eight, and we took two bad shots and a turnover. Those things are the difference between winning and losing,” said Izzo after the game. That sequence happened right before the under-eight timeout in the second half, when MSU was up 63-57 before Michigan hit a huge shot from deep to spark a run that gave them the lead. Izzo detailed that little sequence next, noting that foul trouble forced his team into some awkward defensive assignments, especially for Malik Hall.

“I will say one thing that was a problem for us tonight, we got in foul trouble. We haven’t been playing Malik at the four much in practice because we haven’t been able to practice him the whole time. We were trapping, which I thought we did a hell of a job on when it was Joey (Hauser) and Mady (Sissoko), but then all of a sudden we put Malik into a position he hasn’t worked on much. That’s not his fault; that’s our fault, I guess. And so they got a couple. (Joey) Baker hit that big 3, and it was because Joey (Hauser) hadn’t gone yet, which he wasn’t supposed to, but he thought he did, and cracked down and we left him wide open.”

Just a blown defensive coverage for the Spartans in a titular moment. Since MSU had taken control and gone up two possessions, a few more stops and scores that late in the game really could have put the Spartans in the driver’s seat down the stretch. Alas, Michigan hit the big shots and got right back into the ballgame and rode that home crowd to an eventual victory.

“Those are things that are gonna happen in a game. It’s just disappointing to play that hard and play that well and have those couple little runs, couple little mistakes. As Jud (Heathcote) would say, that’s basketball.”