Tom Izzo reflects on Michigan State's meltdown loss vs. Penn State
What has been an inconsistent year for Michigan State took another disappointing turn Tuesday night in a 62-58 loss to Penn State.
On Saturday, the Spartans had appeared to right the ship with a win vs. Indiana. After taking a strong comeback shot from the Hoosiers, Michigan State responded down the stretch in closing out a 76-61 win over Indiana.
Unfortunately, that momentum did not carry into the game vs. the Nittany Lions. After building a double-digit lead in the second half, the Spartans went lifeless as Penn State came all the way back, including an 11-0 stretch by the Nittany Lions.
Michigan State fell to 9-5 in conference play, looking up at 5 teams ahead of the Spartans in the B1G standings. And down the stretch, Michigan State must face No. 12 Illinois, No. 5 Purdue, No. 18 Ohio State, and gets another rivalry game vs. Michigan.
Thursday evening, Izzo addressed the recent loss vs. the Nittany Lions and the inconsistent performances out of the Spartans. Here’s what he had to say as the team heads toward the stretch run in the middle of February:
Tom Izzo at the podium, says the PSU loss was one of the more disappointing losses he’s had at MSU. “I did not like the way we competed, I did not like the toughness, and I did not like the mental fortitude.” Spartans are working on it, he says, because he has “great guys.”
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) February 17, 2022
Izzo: “We are making progress. We just can’t sustain it. And that’s what the end of the year is gonna be for.”
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) February 17, 2022
Izzo says the players are remaining focused and attentive on the task ahead, just 1 game back of four teams above them in the Big Ten standings. “We’re sitting there knocking on the door. And that’s where we want to be.”
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) February 17, 2022
Izzo was “shocked” by the change in toughness from MSU’s win over Indiana to Tuesday’s loss at Penn State. “That’s the part that’s been the most disappointing.” Says players and coaches should take offense and responsibilty for it. “And yet I keep reminding myself we’re 18-7.”
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) February 17, 2022
Izzo on the next five games, points to last year’s team and how it recovered down the stretch. “Thank God I don’t have to look very far.”
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) February 17, 2022
