Michigan State's Tom Izzo the 'happiest guy in America' to finish early-season grind, and look ahead

East Lansing, Mich. – Michigan State’s Tom Izzo had a wider smile than would normally be customary following a double-digit victory over a middling opponent and improving to 7-4, just over one-third of the way into the season. 

But we don’t know what it’s been like to be him during these opening weeks of the season.

“I’m the happiest guy in America that the 11 games from hell is over,” Izzo said after Michigan State’s 68-50 victory over Brown on Saturday at the Breslin Center. “I really am. Now we have 11 days (actually 10) until our next game, which some coaches will tell you isn’t very good, either. But it is going to be good for us because we are going to get some practice time.”

The Spartans have next week off, due to final exams. Izzo scheduled an added breather into the slate, knowing that a demanding succession of games and dates that Michigan State finished on Saturday would take a toll on his team. 

Izzo is looking forward to giving his team a few days of rest, and then it’s back to instruction and player development with the Spartans scheduled to play only two games in the next 23 days.

“Trust me when I say we need some practice time,” Izzo said. “We probably have had less practice time than any team in the country. Even our players would tell you we need some practice time.

“The young guys, guys like Mady (Sissoko), the two other bigs, Pierre (Brooks), Tre (Holloman), they need practice time and they are going to get it,” Izzo said. “We are going to practice during finals. We are going to get some rest. We are going to do some of that because they need it and I’m going to go on the road recruiting, so it will be a good deal.”

Most Big Ten teams have played eight or nine game at this point in the season. Michigan State has played 11, most of which against stiff competition, including two trips to the West Coast, and only four home games.

The Spartans were a little sluggish to begin Saturday’s game against an out-manned Brown squad, but Michigan State managed to fulfill Izzo’s demands of staying focused on defense.

Michigan State held the Bears’ leading scorer, Kino Lilly, a 6-foot guard, to 3 points on 1-of-7 shooting, more than 11 points under his average.

“I give our defense a lot of credit,” Izzo said. “I thought we did an unbelievable job on Lilly. He can score it in a lot of different ways and I thought he didn’t get many shots off.”

Izzo felt good about Joey Hauser’s 22 points, eclipsing the 1,000-mark barrier the process. And the coach had compliments, once again, for junior guard A.J. Hoggard, who scored 17 points and paced Michigan State with 11 at intermission.

Senior guard Tyson Walker had 10 points on efficient 4-of-8 shooting from the floor and 2-of-5 accuracy from 3-point range. Walker played only 11 minutes in the first half due to picking up two quick fouls. 

“The bright spots were Tyson played pretty good, and Hauser and A.J. has had three good games in a row now,” izzo said. 

This coming after pulling Hoggard from the starting lineup for last Sunday’s game against Northwestern. Izzo has been happy with the results of that move, with Hoggard having started the past two games.

“I think I’m going to bench the rest of the team,” Izzo said. “Maybe they will do better because he has been dynamite. He really has. He has been fun to coach. I think he’s leading better. 

“Our bigs struggled a little bit. Jaden Akins is getting better. He is getting healthier. he still thinks he can tell his body what to do. But some of those dribble things, he is not there yet. I don’t expect him to be there until Christmas. So, no pressure on him. He just has to realize that and let the game come to him.

“Jaden will be a good two-way guard. He is not even guarding well for Jaden. I’m telling you he can guard the world.”

But that will take time, and rest, and recovery, and practice. 

“This is going to be the most critical two to three weeks of our season,” Izzo said. “And then just when we feel like we are getting back, then we add Malik (Hall). That will take an adjustment too.”

Hoggard isn’t showing signs of slowing down, but he says a let-up in the schedule will be welcomed.

“It’s definitely going to be useful for us,” Hoggard said. “Getting back to just being with each other, more practice time and building the things that we need to tighten up, and building on the things we’ve been doing good. We’ll get more time to rest and kick back. We’re not traveling over this down time here. We are just going to be in the gym, getting better, lock ourselves away and get ready for the Big Ten season. It’s just going to be helpful all across the board.”