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Tom Izzo jokes about Kentucky’s veteran roster being ‘illegal’

On3 imageby: Andrew Graham11/16/22AndrewEdGraham
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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - NOVEMBER 15: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans reacts to a play during the second half in the game against the Kentucky Wildcats during the Champions Classic at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on November 15, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

It’s easier to joke about such things after a win — 86-77 in double overtime over Kentucky on Tuesday night for Michigan State — but Tom Izzo was left impressed with the blend of age and talent that the Wildcats put on the floor. So much so that he had to point it out to Kentucky head coach John Calipari.

After the Spartans locked down the win, Izzo joked at his postgame press conference that it shouldn’t be allowed for Kentucky to have so many seniors. In the one-and-done era that Calipari himself ushered in, it’s been a rarity to see this experienced a Wildcats roster.

“I told John, it’s illegal to have that many seniors for Kentucky,” Izzo said after the game, “but I think that they’re going to mesh well together. They’re going to have some experience and those young guys are going to be really good.”

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Kentucky featured five seniors — or redshirt senior, in the case of Iowa transfer CJ Fredrick — against Michigan State. Those seniors were Jacob Toppin, Fredrick, Sahvir Wheeler, Antonio Reeves and, of course, Oscar Tshiebwe.

The reigning national player of the year didn’t start the game, though, as he’s still rehabbing a knee injury. He came off the bench and played major minutes prior to fouling out in the first overtime period.

Additionally, Wheeler has dealt with a knee injury and played big minutes off the bench.

“That’s not easy to just bring a guy like him in, everything goes smooth,” Izzo said. “Wheeler just coming back.”

As for the performance from the Spartans, Izzo was pleased with the way his team stuck to shooters, defensively. The Wildcats went 7-for-25 (28%) from 3 on Tuesday evening.

“We did a hell of a job on their shooters. We stuck to them the best we could and it was a big win for the program. It was a big program win, not an individual win,” Izzo said.