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Michigan State Basketball: 3 quick reactions from demoralizing loss at Iowa

By Nate Rhoades

Feb 15, 2022; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo walks off the court following the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Bryce Jordan Center. Penn State defeated Michigan State 62-58. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 15, 2022; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo walks off the court following the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Bryce Jordan Center. Penn State defeated Michigan State 62-58. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 22, 2022; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo reacts with an official during the second half against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 22, 2022; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo reacts with an official during the second half against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports /

1. These losses are starting to fall on Tom Izzo

With no real leader out on the court directing other players Tom Izzo has to step up and be that leader and mentor. He has got to coach these players and find their energy for them. He is a passionate coach who loves to win.

However, he just looks like he is waiting for someone on the team to step up and lead but he does not have Cassius Winston anymore to do that. Izzo has to be the leader of this team.

Izzo is a coach who cares for these kids. He takes the bullet so many times when it is not his to take and yet he does not get blamed. This year is different. Izzo seems to have also fallen flat. He seems just as lost at times when the game is going on. On numerous occasions, he has let teams go on 10-12 point runs without taking a timeout to get the momentum back on his side.

He did call timeout at Iowa, so he’s heading in the right direction but he has got to fuel these kids’ hunger for a win. I don’t know if these kids are motivated by getting in their face like he has done in years past with Draymond Green, Cassius, Denzel Valentine, etc. If this is not how they operate, Izzo needs to adjust and find out what makes his players spark. Get them playing for the love of the game again, because right now it appears they are only playing because they are obligated to be on the court.

If Izzo steps up and becomes the leader off the court that this team is missing, that could make all the difference.

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