Reusse: Tom Izzo enters 30th Big Ten opener as a head coach filled with memories at The Barn

[BleedGopher]

Per Pat:

This will be Izzo’s 24th game coaching on the elevated court. On the last visit, Feb. 6, 2024, the Gophers managed a 59-56 upset. That put Izzo’s record at 16-7 in Williams Arena.

“It’s so different there; I like playing in that old building,” Izzo said. “We’ve had battles in there with a few different coaches.”

Izzo paused and said: “And with Clem … we had wars.”

“I always liked Clem, liked competing with him,” Izzo said. “I have to call him. I haven’t done that yet.”

“I got a soft spot for Ben Johnson,” Izzo said. “He’s trying to do it the right way, build it, and then those players leave. College sports, it’s almost ridiculous now, but talking about it doesn’t help.

“It is what it is.”

Reusse: Tom Izzo enters 30th Big Ten basketball opener as a head coach filled with memories at The Barn

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo also visited Williams Arena as a player at Northern Michigan and as an assistant coach for the Spartans under Jud Heathcote.

www.startribune.com

Go Gophers!!

 

[Some guy]

I’m glad we have lulled the opposing coach into feeling sorry for us because of how bad we are

We have them right where we want them

 

[howeda7]

I’m glad we have lulled the opposing coach into feeling sorry for us because of how bad we are

We have them right where we want them

Izzo (and Mark Coyle) thought we had a top 25 team if everyone stayed. He's full of it.

 

[USAF]

I'm quite sure every B1G coach is hoping Johnson has a long tenure.

 

[EasyThere Pilgrim]

Izzo (and Mark Coyle) thought we had a top 25 team if everyone stayed. He's full of it.

I'm quite sure every B1G coach is hoping Johnson has a long tenure.

Izzo is telling the truth.

Our administration & Coyle are the liars.

 

[Some guy]

If everyone stayed I thought we had a bubble team in year 4

 

[Go4POV]

To get back to the point of the column (rather than those taking this as another opportunity for Ben-bashing. Do you really need another chance to voice those tired views?) As someone who has had tickets throughout Izzo’s, and part of Heathcote’s, entire tenure, this was a fun column to read. Great nostalgia! Izzo has always been my favorite B1G (non-Gopher) coach, but love to beat him.

Will take a miracle and an All Big Ten performance from Garcia to do it tonight,

 

[bga1]

To get back to the point of the column (rather than those taking this as another opportunity for Ben-bashing. Do you really need another chance to voice those tired views?) As someone who has had tickets throughout Izzo’s, and part of Heathcote’s, entire tenure, this was a fun column to read. Great nostalgia! Izzo has always been my favorite B1G (non-Gopher) coach, but love to beat him.

Will take a miracle and an All Big Ten performance from Garcia to do it tonight,

There is no Ben bashing there. Posters above are talking about the state of the program. It's bad and Izzo says that.

 

[FinnGopher]

To get back to the point of the column (rather than those taking this as another opportunity for Ben-bashing. Do you really need another chance to voice those tired views?) As someone who has had tickets throughout Izzo’s, and part of Heathcote’s, entire tenure, this was a fun column to read. Great nostalgia! Izzo has always been my favorite B1G (non-Gopher) coach, but love to beat him.

Will take a miracle and an All Big Ten performance from Garcia to do it tonight,

Garcia is going to be double and triple teamed. A win tonight only comes from a total team effort that incorporates ball movement and off-the-ball movement on offense. On defense, we cannot give up multiple possessions via MSU offensive rebounds.
The Gophers have not faced the athleticism that MSU will bring to the front court. MSU has player that will jump over Garcia and the boys down low. The Gophers have to play a nearly perfect team game tonight. If you think Garcia is going to do this himself, you will be sorely disappointed.

 

[Go4POV]

Garcia is going to be double and triple teamed. A win tonight only comes from a total team effort that incorporates ball movement and off-the-ball movement on offense. On defense, we cannot give up multiple possessions via MSU offensive rebounds.
The Gophers have not faced the athleticism that MSU will bring to the front court. MSU has player that will jump over Garcia and the boys down low. The Gophers have to play a nearly perfect team game tonight. If you think Garcia is going to do this himself, you will be sorely disappointed.

Was definitely not suggesting that he could do it himself. Don’t treat me like I know nothing about the game. Do you really think I went to all those games without understanding it? I was commenting mostly on the column and Izzo, in no way attempting to provide a thorough pre-game analysis. I agree with your analysis. Problem being, of course that ball movement and scoring has been a problem for the Gophers.

 

[SelectionSunday]

To get back to the point of the column (rather than those taking this as another opportunity for Ben-bashing. Do you really need another chance to voice those tired views?) As someone who has had tickets throughout Izzo’s, and part of Heathcote’s, entire tenure, this was a fun column to read. Great nostalgia! Izzo has always been my favorite B1G (non-Gopher) coach, but love to beat him.

Will take a miracle and an All Big Ten performance from Garcia to do it tonight,

Yep, the good (I'd say great) ole' days of the Big Ten. Heathcote, Clem, Keady, The General, Lou Do (Henson). ... the Big Ten was never any better or entertaining on the sidelines. And I'd add Dr. Tom Davis, who was the antitheses of the others. Calm, professorial.

 

[Married@SiebertField]

Yep, the good (I'd say great) ole' days of the Big Ten. Heathcote, Clem, Keady, The General, Lou Do (Henson). ... the Big Ten was never any better or entertaining on the sidelines. And I'd add Dr. Tom Davis, who was the antitheses of the others. Calm, professorial.

A favorite MSU memory of Clem vs. Judd—even though we lost—was the double OT thriller on Senior afternoon 1990. I recall the sellout crowd rising as one for a prolonged standing ovation as Shik/Willie/Richard/Melvin walked up the stairs from the lockeroom—before Dick Jankowski could even announce the time had come to honor the seniors. If memory serves, it took us two or three minutes to score missing a number of easy shots. The seniors were tight with emotion. Clem held the senior recognition after the game in the following years.

 

[Sparlimb]

Yep, the good (I'd say great) ole' days of the Big Ten. Heathcote, Clem, Keady, The General, Lou Do (Henson). ... the Big Ten was never any better or entertaining on the sidelines. And I'd add Dr. Tom Davis, who was the antitheses of the others. Calm, professorial.

Dude. I miss Dr Tom Davis. And I hate Iowa. Is what it is.