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Michigan State Basketball: 3 pros and cons of the Ohio State loss

By Scott Tolonen

Mar 10, 2023; Chicago, IL, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Tyson Walker (2) looks to pass the ball against Ohio State Buckeyes guard Bruce Thornton (2) during the first half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 10, 2023; Chicago, IL, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Tyson Walker (2) looks to pass the ball against Ohio State Buckeyes guard Bruce Thornton (2) during the first half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 25, 2023; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo reacts during the second half against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 25, 2023; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo reacts during the second half against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports /

Con: Izzo takes the blame again

This team came out flat, and straight-up not ready to play and that falls on the coach. I don’t know if they thought this would be a cakewalk with Brice Sensabaugh out and playing a team that they have beaten twice already this season. Maybe they thought they could wait the Buckeyes out, hoping they would hit a wall playing three games in three days.

Whatever they thought, the Buckeyes snapped them out of it quickly.

Ohio State came out with more energy, more toughness (which kills anyone who has watched past Izzo teams), and just wanted it more. There’s so much talk about Izzo being stubborn and the game is passing him by and while I don’t think that’s entirely true, he’s making the same mistakes over and over again.

I couldn’t believe my eyes when he had Tre Holloman and Pierre Brooks out there at the same time and correctly predicted that OSU would go on a run (probably a 7-0 run).

Lineup mistakes and these slow starts are killing the Spartans and both land on Izzo. He’s an MSU legend but that doesn’t mean he’s perfect. If Izzo really is “Mr. March”, I hope he can pull some magic and we get to see the second weekend for the first time in four years.

Next. 3 teams MSU won't want to see in the first round. dark

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