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Tom Izzo Post-Game: Michigan State 'got out-toughed' by Northwestern

On3 imageby:Paul Konyndyk•12/04/22•

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Tom Izzo assesses Michigan State's lost to Northwestern in Big Ten opener.

East Lansing, Mich. – Michigan State coach Tom Izzo says his team was out-toughed by Northwestern at home in 70-63 home loss in the Big Ten opener for both teams.

“We got out-toughed,” Izzo said. “Those guards really played hard. We just don’t have the depth yet. When Mady and, especially Tyson got in foul trouble, we just didn’t respond very well.”

Tyson Walker scored just nine points for Michigan State in the loss, going 4-of-6 from the floor in 23 minutes. Walker sat for a significant stretch of the first half, and an even longer period in the second half after picking up his third and fourth fouls within a five-minute stretch after halftime.

Michigan State was not the same on either end of the floor when Walker was out.

“Tyson got taken out of it with the fouls,” Izzo said.

Mady Sissoko, who tied AJ Hoggard as leading scorer for Michigan State, played just 23 minutes. Without Sissoko as a rim protector inside, Northwestern was able to get solid production from its guards driving to the basket.

“The number of ball screens that they ran,” Izzo said. “When Mady was in there it was pretty good, but we struggled with some of our other guys.”

Aj Hoggard played well coming off the bench, finishing with 12 points and eight assists. Izzo made the decision to bring Hoggard off the bench as a means of sending a message to the junior guard that careless turnovers in previous games, and inconsistent defense, would not be tolerated.

“I changed the lineup for a reason – it was to light a fire under AJ for not doing the things I need done as a point guard,” Izzo said. “To his credit, he responded really well. He is about the only guy that played with the toughness and the sense of urgency that you need.”

Playing Akins in the starting lineup was not done solely to send a message to Hoggard.

“We decided to start him because of AJ, but we (also) started him because once he warmed up, I didn’t want him sitting there for six or seven minutes. I was hoping he would play 16 or 18 minutes, but he played 22.”

Michigan State travels to Penn State on Wednesday as Big Ten play continues.

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