The number of notable quotes coming from Michigan State’s dominant win over Kentucky has been both overwhelming and refreshing.
Usually there are a few one-liners here and there from Tom Izzo or his players, but he has a team that has a killer mentality, and it shows both on and off the court. The players can talk a big game and back it up, like Cam Ward did following the win.
Ward was asked about how the Spartans were able to get out and dominate Kentucky.
His answer proves that he epitomizes what it means to be a ‘Spartan Dawg’.
Cam “You Don’t Work Hard” Ward on why he came to MSU & why Michigan State destroyed Kentucky: pic.twitter.com/JG45eCqywu
— Michigan State Country (@CountryMichSt) November 20, 2025
”We were just a hungrier team… We just out-toughed them, out-physicalled them. I think it might be that we punked ‘em. That’s what our culture is. We punk people. We make sure people don’t want to play the game anymore — and that’s what happened.”
I’m just going to go out on a limb and say this might be one of the best quotes of the season, and this might just be playing in a future MSUAndyHRCMB highlight video of the 2025-26 season.
Ward has what Izzo looks for: an OKG personality which carries over into his play. He talks about punking people, and then he goes out and does it. Fans have fallen in love with Ward’s play, and he continues to make an impact on both ends of the floor. There aren’t many freshmen in college basketball as tough and as physical as Ward — Jaxon Kohler even said as much.
Izzo got himself a good one, and I’d be willing to bet he goes down as one of Izzo’s best bigs if he stays 3-4 years — that’s a big ‘if’ though.