Tom Izzo Video: Not apologizing for Top 4 seed at Big Ten Tourney: 'We earned everything'

East Lansing, Mich. – Michigan State had some good fortune fall its way on Sunday, but head coach Tom Izzo is making no apologies for winding up with a double bye and a No. 4 seed in this week’s Big Ten Tournament.

With Iowa, Illinois and Maryland losing on Sunday, Michigan State crept up to No. 4 and gets to wait until Friday to play in the Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinals. Michigan State will play Iowa, Ohio State or Wisconsin on Friday afternoon. 

“Some things did fall our way, one or two surprises, but I don’t apologize for anything,” Izzo said during Monday’s weekly press conference. “I think we earned everything.”

Michigan State finished the regular season 19-11 overall and 11-8 in the Big Ten – tied with Indiana and Northwestern for second place in the Big Ten in the loss column. But Michigan State didn’t play last-place Minnesota, causing the Spartans to finish a half game behind the Hoosiers and Wildcats in the Big Ten standings. Michigan State’s game against Minnesota on Feb. 14 was canceled due to the tragic on-campus shootings of Feb. 13.

“We had the toughest schedule,” Izzo said. “I feel very comfortable with where we are. I feel very deserving of it. 

“I’ve been saying all year the league has been crazy and it proved to be crazier than I thought it was. I couldn’t believe the way some of the games went yesterday. It has been consistently insane.”

Michigan State ended the regular season with three wins in its last four games – including victories over Indiana, Nebraska and Ohio State. Michigan State was up by 13 with 1:34 to play at Iowa on Feb. 25, but lost in overtime. 

Michigan State could face Iowa again on Friday, if the Hawkeyes beat the winner of Wisconsin vs Ohio State on Thursday.

“We get a couple of days now to prep,” Izzo said. “The ironic part is we just played Iowa and Ohio State. The scary one is we haven’t played Wisconsin since the beginning of the year, so it would be a completely new prep. 

“So we will do a little work on them (Wisconsin) today and tomorrow and figure out who we play on Thursday, and then play Friday. This year, you can’t predict anything. I could see anybody beating anybody that first night.”

Izzo said he felt no anxiety watching Sunday’s games.

“I wanted to play Friday if possible, but I didn’t lose sleep over it,” he said, “for two reasons: How in the hell could that many scenarios happen? The second is that it’s not like we are going to play someone easier. It’s just that maybe you play one less game. No matter who you play, they are all going to be tough games.”

The Spartans wrapped up the regular season by beating 13th-place Ohio State, 80-67 on Senior Day, Saturday. 

“You think of what we went through, what our fans went through, what our students went through – they stayed there (for Saturday’s game) for spring break,” Izzo said. “It was impressive by our fans and community. I was overwhelmed by that. The environment was great as always. It as a great way to close out the regular season. When you have recruits there for that, it’s always special.”

IZZO, SPARTANS PLAN TO VISIT HOSPITAL

Whether or not the Spartans have success on the court this weekend in Chicago, Izzo says his team and program will try be force for good in the Michigan State community. 

Izzo and his wife, Lupe, have visited Sparrow Hospital several times to meet with students who were hospitalized by the Feb. 13 shootings. Of the five who were critically injured on Feb. 13, three have been discharged. One remains in fair condition and another in critical condition.

He said there are plans to visit one of the Michigan State students who was hospitalized during the Feb. 13 shootings this week, off-campus.

“One of our students was moved to a facility in Chicago,” Izzo said. “We are going to try to stop by and see him, and continually not forget the people that we lost and yet try to bring some more joy and bring some more healing and try to bring a banner back.”

Michigan State hasn’t won a banner since Cassius Winston’s senior season in 2020. Hall, as a freshman, and Hauser, as a redshirting transfer, were part of that team which won the Big Ten Regular Season Championship. But the postseason tournaments were canceled due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus.

“I would say for Joey and Malik, they have been through it all,” Izzo said. “College kids don’t deserve to go through what they have went through, with all the things that have happened. But at the same time, they are going to be pretty prepared.

“I’m looking forward to trying to help these guys to get something positive that they will remember that will make up for all the COVID nights and all the things they have gone through. So hopefully we will do that.”