Tom Izzo, Tre Holloman share what Michigan State can do to handle Purdue in Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals

With a win over Minnesota on Thursday in the Big Ten Tournament, Michigan State moved on to the quarterfinals and a date with top seeded Purdue, one of the best teams in the entire country. And the Spartans already know they’re facing a steep challenge.

Purdue has a case to be the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, depending on how the Big Ten Tournament goes for the Boilermakers. As such, after the Spartans ousted the Gophers, Izzo was a bit tongue-in-cheek about playing the Boilermakers.

In the last and only matchup this season between the team, an 80-74 loss for the Spartans, Purdue had a highly efficient offensive outing fueled by star big man Zach Edey. It’s a performance that Izzo hasn’t forgotten.

“Well, I don’t really have any early thoughts,” Izzo said on Big Ten Network. “They got a big guy that killed us, they got two guards that went 8-for-10 against us. They’ve got a lot of weapons. Matt’s done a hell of a job with them. I’m just happy that we get the opportunity to play.”

One of Izzo’s Michigan State players, Tre Holloman, provided a slightly more detailed scouting report when he joined the BTN desk shortly after.

Even still, the recipe to stop Purdue is easier described than executed.

“Contain Edey, keep Braden Smith in front of us and we just gotta do what we do on offense: Rebound and run,” Holloman said.

And following a season where Michigan State slipped from being a preseason Top 10 team to likely sneaking into the NCAA Tournament around the No. 10 seed line, Izzo and Co. are hopeful for the chance to kick things up a gear and get on a roll, even if the next challenge is a big one.

“And who knows, that’s why you play the games,” Izzo said. “But they’re very good, they’re very solid, and they’ve been very consistent. But maybe we’ll get on a little roll, who knows.” 

Izzo was pleased, but critical with his team’s second half performance

Michigan State entered the half of its Big Ten men’s basketball tournament opener trailing Minnesota by two, 34-32. And the message from Izzo at halftime was rather simple: Defend, rebound and run transition offense like the Spartans are known for.

Following a 45-33 second half in which the Spartans did just that, going on to win, 77-67, Izzo was pleased with how his team responded. But he didn’t love how they had to dig out of a small hole in the first place.

“I think we’re so much better than we’re playing and at times — we did a much better job second half,” Izzo said on the Big Ten Network after the win. “But we still make some mistakes that I don’t think a veteran team should or a veteran coach. So I’m being critical of myself.”