Michigan basketball: Hunter Dickinson on handshake line with Tom Izzo, discussion with officials
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo went on a long spiel about the sanctity of handshake lines after the Michigan-Wisconsin postgame altercation Feb. 20, arguing that the tradition should continue.
The MSU head coach is a “man of his word,” Michigan sophomore center Hunter Dickinson said after Michigan’s 87-70 blowout win over the Spartans Tuesday night. Despite letting the officials have it because Dickinson was exchanging words with the MSU bench after scoring several buckets, Izzo went through the handshake line with his team.
“You heard his quote — he shakes hands regardless, right?” Dickinson said.
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After MSU beat Michigan in East Lansing in January, Izzo was complimentary of the Michigan big man. But he was quiet after Tuesday night’s beatdown.
“I remember after the game at Michigan State, Coach Izzo had a lot to say to me — a lot of good things,” Dickinson said. “After this game, he didn’t say anything. I feel like he got a little upset. But I don’t know, I don’t take it personally.”
Dickinson scored a career-high 33 points on 13-of-19 shooting from the field and added nine rebounds. He was dominant in the second half especially, posting 21 points. Starting early on in the game, Dickinson was looking over at the Spartan bench after making plays. At one point in the second half, Izzo had seen enough and the officials stopped play to calm down the head coach. They also had a discussion with Dickinson.
“They were just saying you can’t talk to the other team, which is fair,” Dickinson said. “[You can’t] talk to the opponent’s bench, which is fair.”
Dickinson wouldn’t reveal what he was saying to the Michigan State bench, even though he admitted “freshman Hunter” would’ve let the world know.
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Dickinson’s passion carried over to the rest of the Michigan team, which shot 58 percent from the field and went 7-of-12 from three-point range en route to 87 points, tied for the most MSU has given up in a game all season.
“[Assistant coach] Saddi [Washington] was telling us yesterday, you gotta bring your alter ego,” Dickinson revealed. “For me, when I go out there and wear my emotions on my sleeve, I feel like I’m at my best, just trying to be the best me out there.”
Added Dickinson: “That’s what Michigan basketball is — gritty. [Juwan Howard] always says, ‘Toughest, nastiest, hardest working.’ So we try to emulate that each and every day we go out there on the floor. We try to play for him.”
To cap off the night, Dickinson fired off a tweet throwing shade at Izzo and praising Michigan associate head coach Phil Martelli, who’s filling in for the suspended Howard.
