Michigan State basketball: Tom Izzo, players candid about potential turnaround
Michigan State basketball held an important practice on Thursday night and both Tom Izzo and the player spoke candidly about a potential turnaround.
Losing three games in a row hurts. Losing two of those games against struggling opponents which were 10-plus point underdogs is even more painful. Dropping one of them at home in front of a sellout crowd in front of College GameDay is even worse.
Michigan State is struggling right now and grasping for any type of momentum heading into the dog days of the Big Ten regular season schedule.
The Spartans lost at Purdue to cap off a three-game week, then lost at home against Indiana which was one a seven-game skid and then followed that up with a road loss against 7-15 Illinois. That’s exactly what will spark some panic among of fan base and send Tom Izzo and his players into a downward spiral, looking for answers.
A second-to-last practice before the next game on the schedule (Saturday vs. Minnesota) took place on Thursday evening and the Spartans got after it.
After practice, they talked about the potential for a turnaround, and everyone seemed to be on the same page, exhibiting a workman-like approach.
Kenny Goins, however, had the quote of the week.
Kenny Goins after practice, asked about MSU turning things around: “It’s nut up or shut up.”
— Matt Charboneau (@mattcharboneau) February 7, 2019
The senior forward is right. It’s time for these guys to toughen up or take a back seat because no one is going to be afraid of an effortless MSU team.
Tom Izzo, too, was candid about the issues and pointed out specifically what the Spartans need to do to end the skid and get back to championship-level basketball.
Tom Izzo after practice today with MSU on three-game skid: "It’s about defend, rebound, run. The way that Michigan State's done it, the way that championships teams do it."
— Matt Charboneau (@mattcharboneau) February 7, 2019
Izzo points out teams are shooting about 15 percent better from three and MSU went from outrebounding teams by 13 to 1 from first 5 games of B1G season to now. Both lead to the transition game being off
— Matt Charboneau (@mattcharboneau) February 7, 2019
More Izzo: "If I ever say to you that were tired again, just call me whatever you want. I’ll rubber stamp it. I’m done with the tired stuff. We’re not tired. We’re gonna have to learn to play through fatigue."
— Matt Charboneau (@mattcharboneau) February 7, 2019
Nick Ward was asked about a potential turnaround, too, and rebounding effort was addressed.
Nick Ward on getting back to rebounding: "Just giving more effort. It's an easy fix. Something that we have to do to win."
— Matt Charboneau (@mattcharboneau) February 8, 2019
It’s clear that this team is hungry to end the losing streak and return to the level of play they had in the first three months of the year, but it all starts with effort.
Next. 5 fixes MSU basketball must make to end skid. dark
Not allowing second-chance points on offensive rebounds and getting out in the fast-break as well as cutting the number of turnovers will be a start. This team has the talent, but the mental aspect has to catch up.