Tom Izzo on Michigan State win over Rutgers: 'I do think we're good enough to go on a run'

Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo wanted improvement at halftime and got it in the Spartans’ latest win over Rutgers.

The Spartans dispatched the Scarlet Knights 73-55, courtesy of a 19-0 run in the second half. Izzo knows this team is good enough to do something later in March.

The win put Michigan State at 10-7 on the season and 2-4 in Big Ten play, for now.

“Well, at halftime, we just talked about doing a better job moving the ball,” Izzo said to BTN’s Andy Katz. “I told you our defense was good enough, our offense wasn’t. And then give my guys credit, AJ played better the second half, Tyson I thought … but we got a little bit from everybody and big charge taken by Cooper that kind of changed things too. But we still have a long way to go you know, just one of these teams. We gotta grind it every second. I don’t know why.” 

Izzo previously said this team is good enough to do something special. He reaffirmed that notion Sunday.

“I do think we’re good enough to go on a run,” Izzo said. “We’re gonna go on a run. I just like it get the start earlier than they do.”

Not only was it a great win, Izzo’s son Steven scored his first basket after 43 games with MIchigan State.

“Did it look just like LaPhonso Ellis at Notre Dame, were there similarities,” Izzo joked. “You know what? That’s the  thrill of a dad. It’s a thrill of a lifetime. And I love the fact that my players were probably more excited than I was.” 

Izzo crossed up the defender and fell to the ground while he was fouled and the circus shot went in. His reaction, and that of everyone else in the building, was immediate joy. It was like everyone on Michigan State’s roster and in the crowd knew how special that was for him.

Steven Izzo has been on the team since 2019, when he joined as a walk-on. His role has largely been as a practice player who occasionally plays when games are already decided. This time, he just managed to put the ball in the bucket.

But as Izzo predicted, Michigan State can put together wins and start getting the season back on track. It continued against Rutgers.

“We’re going to get better,” Izzo said following the loss to Illinois earlier this month. “We’re going to grow from here. We’re going to get better. Everybody will give up on us and that’s fine with me. I don’t even blame them. I think I know where this team can still get and I plan on getting them there …”