Tom Izzo states Iowa does not 'have the resources' to meet fan expectations

It’s quite common for college basketball coaches to defend each other. It happens all the time, especially in college football and college basketball, where the scrutiny is often the highest. It comes with the territory. Following the Michigan State win over the Iowa Hawkeyes on Thursday, Spartans head coach Tom Izzo came to the defense of embattled Hawkeyes’ head coach Fran McCaffery.

Izzo was asked about what he would say to Iowa fans that are frustrated. And what he would tell them about where the program is at. The Spartans head coach then shared how much he supported McCaffery and let it be known that he doesn’t think the Hawkeyes head coach has the same resources as other places in the Big Ten.

“I look at some of the players he’s had and what they’ve done, you get lucky and unlucky. I just went through a three-year period where everyone wants to ship me out. I mean, it’s just the way it is. They don’t have the resources here. I’m going to say what I think. This ain’t what Fran thinks.

“Everybody has different amounts of resources. They’re not on the middle or high end. I love Fran. I think what he’s gone through here with his own kids and everything. Watch what you wish for. I’ve seen this happen at a couple of football programs close to us and people better appreciate. It’s easy to throw stones. Everybody says, ‘Well, we’re paying guys money now, so you should be able to win.’ Well, don’t you think the rest of us are paying money? It’s no different. Fran is one of my favorite guys because he does speak his own piece and he’s very smart,” Izzo said.

After the MSU head coach issued a warning to the Iowa administration about the risks of moving on from McCaffery, he said the Hawkeyes’ performance against the Spartans was a great example of why he’s such a good coach.

“And I know this, he’s sticking around if it’s up to me because I need him. I need some of the guys that helped build this conference again and he’s one of them. And I think tonight proves it. We had everything to play for. They didn’t have as much to play for. I’m supposed to be such a ‘good’ coach.

“He kicked my butt, our butt for most of that time, so I’d say… what would I say to the people? I would say to the people that like everything else in life, 10 or 15 percent of the people—Jud Heathcote said 10 or 15 percent of the people make enough noise to ruin a lot of things. I don’t think everybody feels that way, but I know what I think, I know what the coaching community thinks. That’s all I can tell you. I watched it. I was 40 feet from it. He got a lot left in the tank. I promise you that,” Izzo said.

Iowa led the Spartans by seven points at halftime and even built an early 14-point lead in the second half, before MSU came battling back. Michigan State won the outright Big Ten Regular Season Championship with their win on Thursday. It’s their 11th Big Ten Regular Season Championship under Tom Izzo.

Iowa (15-15, 6-13 in Big Ten) will finish off their regular season against Nebraska (17-13 7-12 in the Big Ten).