Tom Izzo thanks fans for showing support, jabs Robbie Hummel

Over the weekend, head coach Tom Izzo and the Michigan State Spartans earned a gritty win over the Maryland Terrapins.

After the game, Izzo was asked about his team struggling with turnovers and giving up rebounds in the game and how it impacts a team. In response, Izzo expressed his frustrations while also showing support for the fans while taking a jab at broadcaster Robbie Hummel.

“That really ticked me off because we get a steal out in the middle of the court and they go down to the floor and get it. We don’t. They get a layup,” Tom Izzo said. “We had a couple of the most ridiculous turnovers, and we were playing our hearts out.”

In the end, Michigan State won 63-54 behind a strong defensive effort. However, 12 turnovers and giving up 12 offensive rebounds to Maryland while the Spartans shot 44.4 percent from the field made things difficult. Still, Izzo was happy with how fans stayed in the game.

“Besides Robbie Hummel and the media and the coaching staff, I thought our fans were awesome. We gave them nothing to cheer about 90 percent of the time and they just hung with us, hung with us, hung with us, hung with us,” Izzo said.

“And that too was like old times. I asked Jason Richardson, Mat Ishbia, I said, ‘Remind you of things?’ And Jason said, ‘Yeah, the game did.’ You know, because back then it was a football game on hardwood too.”

Michigan State is back in action Tuesday night against Minnesota. Ahead of that game, Tom Izzo wants to look back and figure out where the Spartans had issues.

“I was disappointed in why we couldn’t, you know, our defense was so good and we were doing so well and all of a sudden, you know, and I don’t know if we didn’t sub enough, guys got tired, I don’t know what it was, but I promise you I’m going to look at the film and try to figure it out.”

Tom Izzo reveals the next step that Michigan State needs to take during final stretch

Michigan State is currently tied for fourth in the Big Ten standings with a 6-5 conference record. With the final stretch coming up, Tom Izzo shared what the Spartans need to do to take the next step.

I think the next step for us in the next nine or ten games in the regular season? We’ve got to get Booker going. We’ve got to get Carr going a little bit. Talked to some buddies that I have in the profession today at Tennessee and other places that have good freshmen. It’s not much different all over the country,” Izzo said.

“I think for us to take one more step? I think that’s going to be important. That’s what we’re going to work on.”