One of those names in Kirk Cousins, who just wrapped up his career at Michigan State. Cousins threw for more than 3,300 yards with 25 touchdowns and 10 interceptions this past season as the Spartans made the inaugural Big Ten title game. Cousins posted nearly 9,200 yards with 66 touchdowns and 30 picks for his career. He believes he’s going to be drafted in the second round, but could sneak into the first.

Kirk Cousins joined 92.3 The Fan in Cleveland with Bull and Fox to discuss playing for Mark Dantonio, the pre-draft process, meeting with the Cleveland Browns, what scouts are saying about him, if he looks at mock drafts, what he’s hearing about where he’ll go in the draft and if there is a perfect scenario out there for him.

What was it like playing for coach Mark Dantonio?:

“At the end of the day, what’s very important for a player to understand is that Coach Dantonio cares about you as a person. He’s not going to use you to get to where he wants to go. He may have his disagreements with you at times, but at the end of the day he cares about you and he wants to see you have success, not only on the football field but off the football field.”

What has the pre-draft process gone like for you?:

“What I’ve enjoyed about the process is everywhere I’ve gone, I felt like I helped myself. Whether it was the week at the Senior Bowl, I felt like I came away having helped myself. The NFL combine, my pro day, individual workouts, team visits — I’m a guy that has nothing to hide and I think that the more that teams get a chance to take a look at me, get to know me and evaluate me, the better I’m going to be come draft day. I think this process has been good for me. … At the same time, it’s a very long process. … It’s constant evaluation. It never stops. The toughest thing is that the perspective of teams tends to be, ‘Why should we not draft you?’ as opposed to, ‘Why should we draft you?’”

Have you visited with the Cleveland Browns?:

“I have not. I don’t have one scheduled to visit with them. They came up to pro day. I visited with a bunch of their staff at the combine, including their head coach, Coach Shurmur.”

What is the negative that the scouts seem to stick you with?:

“It’s interesting because everybody has a different opinion of what your strengths and your weaknesses are. For me, I’m not a guy who’s 6-4, 240 pounds or a guy who runs a 4.4 or a 4.5. I think sometimes the size, the speed, those physical components are things that I don’t have. … I don’t know that that’s the most important thing for a quarterback in the NFL, but it’s certainly something they’re taking a look at. Beyond that, I think there are a lot of positives. I think that I’ve played a lot of football at Michigan State and won a lot of games and had a lot of productivity.”

Do you ever sneak a peak at the mock drafts that are out there?:

“It’s certainly hard to completely avoid it. You’re going to catch wind of where people have you projected to go. It’s impossible to avoid it entirely. I was advised early in the process to not pay much energy or attention to those projections and I think I’ve done a good job of staying out of it for the most part. What I’m trying to listen to is when my agent speaks to NFL teams and tries to get an honest opinion of where they see me going.”

What are you hearing right now?:

“I think certainly there’s a wide range, but the second round is a place where I can see myself going. Not to be too much of a dreamer, but I think that’s a realistic spot for me. I think that means I could go in the third round. I think that means I could sneak up into the first round.”

Would you rather go someplace where the team might not be as good but you can play now or go to a team that is solid with an established quarterback and wait your turn?:

“At the end of the day, what I want is long-term success — long-term success for the franchise I’m a part of and long-term success for myself in my career. I’m not sure what that means as far as the best situation coming out of the draft. Clearly for Aaron Rodgers, the best situation for long-term success was to sit behind Brett Favre, to watch and to learn and then to go win a Super Bowl when Brett left. … For Ben Roethlisberger, it was clearly a good option for him to go in and play right away. Eli Manning did much the same thing. It depends on where you are. I think there’s a lot to be gained from being around a veteran that is willing to share his wisdom. … Not to say it has to be for a long time, but to have a guy around I think helps a great deal.”

Listen to Kirk Cousins on 92.3 The Fan in Cleveland here

However, trough all the adversity that Michigan State sustained, not only did they win a share of the Big Ten Championship and win the conference championship outright, but they have captured a number one seed in the NCAA Tournament. Tom Izzo has done one of his best coaching jobs since he arrived in East Lansing, but the goals for the Spartans are bigger than Big Ten Titles. Izzo wants to cap off a dream season with a championship and with him on the sidelines and a number one seed in the West, Sparty has a great chance.

Tom Izzo joined WXYT in Detroit with Stoney and Bill to talk about the loss to Ohio State in the regular season and how nice it was to get redemption yesterday, on the strength of the Big Ten, what he thinks of Michigan State’s draw, and Draymond Green’s Michigan State legacy.

On the loss against Ohio State in the regular season and how nice it was to get redemption following that loss:

“I would’ve rather won both. You’ve got to remember last week because nobody understood what a big deal it was, I don’t like making it like life and death and I’m not, but it was an incredible day for a lot of reasons. When you’re playing at home in front of all your former players and fans that helped you get where you are you want to win and that’s what makes it so devastating. At the same time you add into that the chance to win the Big Ten outright and then you add into that Branden Dawson and that’s one hell of a day guys. A lot of things were tough but I think it just shows the resiliency. We started off the season losing two to North Carolina and Duke and at the end of the season losing two to Indiana and Ohio State and this team has still bounced back and probably played some of our best basketball if you look at all three games in that tournament.”

On the strength of the conference:

“Well when you have three teams in Ohio State and Michigan that tie for it and you have Purdue, Wisconsin, and everybody forgets Northwestern and Minnesota and Illinois were all ranked at one time so I think the strength of the conference has been incredible. Then we went and played some of those smaller schools like Carolina and Duke and then went out to Gonzaga and I don’t know anyone who goes on campus, we played Florida State at home, Lehigh and some other teams that made the tournament so our strength of schedule is a landslide number one. Part of that is the league was so good and part of that is we played some good non-conference but I think there are four or five Big Ten teams that have a shot to make a serious run just because of what they’ve been through during the year.”

What he makes of the draw Michigan State got:

“I think the biggest problem with our bracket and I don’t think there’s any problem, I mean I don’t think any is easier than any other one but it comes down to matchups guys. We have now lost two of our best athletes, Delvon Roe at 6-7 and of course Branden Dawson at 6-6, two of our best defensive athletes and rebounding athletes. Our bracket seems to be loaded with the most athletic teams if you look at Memphis, Marquette, Missouri, Louisville, and I’m not saying they are any better or worse than any teams but they are smaller and athletic and really get after it. That’s where you need the guy we need so I don’t know how those matchups will end up and that’s the only part that is a little concerning. I feel like we got a great bracket and a little tough trip if we win Friday and Sunday, you have a quick turnaround to get out to Phoenix but hey this team has been through adversity a little bit and happen to make adjustments all year. I think the bracket is great and excited to be a one seed and I’m excited to be in the tournament.”

On the legacy of Draymond Green:

“That’s one of the things that I try to tell players every year. You want to be good, you want to be great, you want to leave a footprint, and you want to do something that maybe somebody else hasn’t done. That’s another reason that an outright Big Ten Championship is so important. There’s only been like six in the history of the school. I think Mateen (Cleaves) came up with a better phrase. When guys like that come back they all take about before you sit at our table there are things you have to accomplish. One of them of course was winning the Big Ten. Now they have accomplished something that some of those people didn’t in the Big Ten tournament. Getting a one seed is a step in the right direction. Now the last thing to be at the head seat of that table you’ve got to win a National Championship. Draymond Green and Austin Thornton have earned the right to be talked about with some of the great teams in Michigan State history and they will be sitting at that table with those guys. How much they move up to the head of that table will be determined in the next three weeks but I’m really proud of them, I’m excited you can include them with some of those great teams, and it’s been earned, not given.”

Listen to Tom Izzo on WXYT in Detroit here

It was the Hoosier’s third victory this season over a team ranked in the top five. They’re the only program to beat top-ranked Kentucky up to this point and also took down then-No. 2 Ohio State on New Year’s Eve. With the parity in college basketball, especially outside the top one or two teams, the victory has many wondering if Indiana can go deep into the NCAA tournament.

Tom Crean joined 1070 The Fan in Indianapolis with Dan Dakich to discuss the Hoosiers’ defense against the Spartans, Cody Zeller’s play the first time against Michigan State compared to Tuesday, the atmosphere at Assembly Hall, the recent play of Christian Watford, reminding players to shoot the ball if they’re open and why he doesn’t make preseason expectations.

Was that as good of defense as you’ve seen a Hoosiers team play in a long time?:

“It’s right there, there’s no question, especially at home, but more importantly, especially against a team that good. I really liked our defense up at Minnesota, I thought we were really good with our communication and gameplan and what we wanted to switch, what we didn’t. … The short turnaround really helped keep us in that mindset. When our guys do that, they’re hard to score against.”

Compare what you saw from Cody Zeller in the victory against what he didn’t against Michigan State in the first meeting:

“He played with his lower body. Up at Michigan State, it was far too much of trying to get open with his upper body and realizing that’s not going to work. We did a better job of waiting for him and he did a better job of holding his position. He did a really, really good job of staying low. We were able to move him away from the rim more and more. He did some really good things in driving the ball and creating for others. And the steal, we saw today the steal and the dunk he had, the decibel level in the building was 115.3.”

On the amazing atmosphere at Assembly Hall:

“It has been all year, but [Tuesday] night was at a different level, it really was. It was really like the Kentucky game and probably even the Ohio State game. … I think it’ll even be topped on Sunday night, judging by the buzz on campus.”

Was Christian Watford’s overall play affected by his recent scoring funk?:

“Sure it did. To me, he wasn’t shooting the ball enough and he wasn’t aggressive enough in looking for a shot, he wasn’t aggressive enough in posting up randomly and he wasn’t aggressive enough in getting to the foul line. We’re 10-1 when he makes four or more free throws. … Those things were big parts of it. What he did is he really, really absorbed what he saw on film and then he went out and made the corrections.”

Why do you think you have to remind players sometimes to shoot the ball?:

“Because they’re very good teammates. Because they’re constantly looking for their teammates. They know that we’re not into bad shots and that’s the thing that, as we’ve gotten better, the bottom line is we have enough guys on that court that can make shots that we don’t have to take a bad one, a challenged one.”

Where does this team sit relative to your expectations entering the season?:

“No, I never think like that. … I think it’s a stupid thought, personally. I don’t mind [you asking it]. I get it. But I just think if I put a numerical goal on this team, in my own mind, what am I saying about the rest of those games? You coach every game to win it. Our first year, we coached every game to win it. We tried to make a plan, we just weren’t good enough or things didn’t go our way. … I think I learned that early on enough as an assistant coach that I didn’t get away from it as a head coach. I’ll never forget, back at Marquette, we went to a booster’s house, our coaching staff was invited to a booster’s house for dinner and one of the key things this guy wanted to do — and I’m still mad at myself for doing it — but he wanted every coach in there to predict what we were going to win. That’s at a point in time where I’m looking and saying we need to raise some money for our program. … I’d never do it again.”

Listen to Tom Crean on 1070 The Fan in Indianapolis here

Draymond Green joined 1070 the Fan in Indianapolis with Dan Dakich to talk about what it would mean to have a share of the Big Ten title, if Michigan State would like to win the conference outright in the regular season, and what it means to him to be considered one of the frontrunners for Big Ten Player of the Year.

On what it would mean to have a share of the Big Ten title:

“Of course it means anything. That would be pure nonsense to say it doesn’t mean anything because any time you can clinch a share of the Big Ten title that’s going to mean a lot but what it did mean to me is that I have to take my leadership and Austin Thornton have to pick it up even more because we have to make sure guys are not satisfied. At the end of the day we do want to win an outright title. When I go to Purdue or Ohio State and I look up in their rafters and I see 2010 Big Ten title it doesn’t sit well with me because it means that I’m sharing something else with them so I also know how it feels to win an outright title as well. Want to kind of get that feeling back and show the guys what that is all about. We definitely have to make sure we maintain a focus level that is going to keep getting us wins like we have been getting.”

If Michigan State would like to win the conference outright in the regular season:

“Oh definitely want the entire thing. When it comes down to it where you can possibly be sharing it with Ohio State but possibly be sharing it with Michigan as well. It’s bad enough going to Ohio State and Purdue seeing it but going to Michigan I don’t think that would sit well with anyone.”

What it means to him to be considered one of the frontrunners for Big Ten Player of the Year:

“It’s great to hear but at the end of the day I know I still have to keep on doing what I’ve been doing. I know every time I step on the court I’m competing with Jared Sullinger, that’s what everybody is saying, me and him are the frontrunners for the award and I know he’s a great player and he’s going to have great performances so I just need to try to do my best. One thing that I don’t worry about when I step on the court is winning Big Ten Player of the Year. I go out there and try to get wins. In order for us to get wins I just try to play my best and help lead us to wins. If that leads me to getting Big Ten Player of the Year then I will be happy but when you’re playing here that’s a complete team award especially with the team I have. The way guys show the ball and all the things that we do together. I couldn’t do all the things that I do without these guys; Without Keith Appling giving me great passes to knock down shots, guys cutting out for me to clean up rebounds, and all those things. That would be a complete team award for us. All the things that I’m getting and the credit I’m getting a lot of it has to go to my guys.”

Listen to Draymond Green on 1070 the Fan in Indy here

Hoke isn’t apologizing to anyone for that, saying that his team has simply worried about itself all season and that isn’t going to change now. The former San Diego State and Ball State coach also has some interesting opinions on Denard Robinson and the rumors that the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry game could be moved from the last week of the season.

Brady Hoke joined WXYT in Detroit with Stoney and Bill to discuss preparing his team for distractions in New Orleans, the excitement level of his team as they prepare for a BCS bowl game matchup with Virginia Tech, the threats Virginia Tech poses in all three phases of the game, the agreement between the Big Ten and Pac-12 to play each other every year, the future of quarterback Denard Robinson, and the potential moving of the rivalry game with Ohio State from the last weekend of the regular season.

Are there distractions you have to worry about with your team playing in New Orleans?:

“You’ve been here, right? And you’re distracted easily. When you’ve got a bunch of 18 to 23 year olds and you’re in a great city that has a lot of different opportunities, it can be a distraction. … We pretty much check them in every night. … They had a little time to themselves, but believe me, we check them all in.”

Do you have to educate your players about the surroundings and what’s going on down there?:

“No question. We brought in the New Orleans police department and they do a great job of really trying to educate your guys on the different elements that are here and the different traps that you can fall into. I thought that was a great orientation.”

(Before the college football bowl season winds down, check out Top Bet’s online sportsbook to place your bets safely and securely.)

How excited is your group and can you understand the frustration of fans from teams like Michigan State who think they should be in a BCS bowl game?:

“We’re extremely proud and excited to be here and playing in a BCS football game. All year long, we haven’t worried about anybody else but ourselves. We’re just going to go out and represent the University of Michigan and represent the Big Ten Conference to our highest level.”

On the matchups with some dynamic offensive players for Virginia Tech:

“The running back, you have a 1,600-yard back. That’s a pretty special thing. He’s definitely a guy who can do an awful lot — hitting the hole, he’s got great explosion, he’s a triple jump champion at the Penn Relays. He’s a very athletic guy, David Miller. And then Logan Thomas at quarterback is a 6-8 version of Denard. He’s 250 pounds. He reminds you a lot of Ben Roethlisberger at an early age, when he could move around the pocket a little better.”

What are your thoughts on the new agreement pitting Pac-12 teams against the Big Ten every year?:

“I think the two conferences have so much tradition together, when you look at the Rose Bowl. I think it’s good for our conference. You definitely have to look at your scheduling and what you’ll do with that, going on from here, if that’s what you’re going to have.”

Do you believe Denard Robinson will be back next year?:

“I think so. We’re the ones who encouraged him to find out [more about the NFL]. There’s a lot of different reasons you would do that, maybe some motivation, maybe some insurance a guy can take out. All of those things are a part of it, and to see where you’re at. Denard kind of came to me about it and was very hesitant and I said, ‘No, I think we need to do this and I think it’s the right thing to do for you.’”

On rumors that the Ohio State-Michigan game may be moved earlier in the season and you guys would always end the season against Michigan State:

“I would be very much against it. That rivalry with Ohio has always been played at the end of the year and you’d probably find a lot of people with the same sentiment that it needs to be kept where it is.”

Listen to Brady Hoke on WXYT in Detroit here

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo isn’t saying that the Big Ten is easily the best basketball conference in the country, but he seems to have a point that it’s in a better state than it has been for a while. Now that the conference season has started, it’s going to be interesting to watch the race take shape and then see who makes the Big Dance.

Tom Izzo joined 1070 The Fan in Indianapolis with Dan Dakich to discuss the state of his team at this point, how it got here, where the Big Ten stands and some of the league’s storylines now that the league slate is under way.

Are you happy with where your team is at right now?:

“I’m pleased. I’m ecstatic about our record. … We have improved and we’ve improved in areas you really want to. Our shooting has gone from 30-some percent to 50-some percent. … We have our moments when I think our inexperience kind of rears its ugly head and our lack of playing together does. So we have stretches when I’m not ecstatic about how we’re playing, but I do know this: I like where we’re at, as long as we keep getting better. If we don’t, we’ll just be a good to decent team, at best.”

Has it been a combination of solid output from Adreian Payne and Derrick Nix combined with the veteran toughness of Draymond Green?:

“I think you hit on all factors right there. It’s not like Payne and Nix have been dynamite, but between them, we’re getting 15 points and 10, 11, 12 rebounds and pretty good defense. … And our leadership, Draymond is as tough as nails. He’s been so good. He’s been a much better practice player than he was. He’s really taken on the responsibility of not only a captain, but a senior.”

On the strength of the Big Ten Conference:

“Don’t you think it’s the best you’ve seen it in a lot, a lot of years? I think one is really good in Ohio State. I’m not sure we’re as strong as a couple other conferences with our one, two and threes. But when you look at two through nine in our league, I think there’s a lot of teams that can get in the NCAA Tournament. It’s going to be tough.”

Even looking on down the line to teams like a Nebraska:

“Well, the other problem with Nebraska, I don’t know Doc real well, but I know him well enough. He’s kind of in the Dick Bennett mold, too, where they’re going to check you. It’s not going to be any easy time. … And [with Wisconsin's] Jordan Taylor, we’re sitting there looking at his stats saying, ‘He’s not where he was last year and this and this.’ Yet, it’s almost like he’s toying with us. He’s been more of a facilitator, eight assists, one turnover. … When it’s time to turn on the big lights, I’m afraid to say he’ll take another step up and then they’ll be really, really good.”

Listen to Tom Izzo on 1070 The Fan in Indianapolis here

First things first, though. The Badgers get an opportunity to exact some revenge against Michigan State on Saturday as the two tangle on Saturday in the first ever Big Ten Championship Game in Indianapolis.

Bret Bielema joined 1070 The Fan in Indianapolis with Dan Dakich to Wisconsin’s win over Penn State that advanced the Badgers to the conference championship game this coming weekend, how his defense has turned things around since the two losses in the middle stages of the season, the excitement surrounding the first ever Big 10 Championship Game, getting a shot at redemption against Michigan State in the title game, Montee Ball’s emergence in the Heisman race and why he’s not an advocate of a full-blown playoff system in college football.

On beating Penn State to get to the Big Ten title game:

“Our guys really, after the two back-to-back heartbreaking losses to Michigan State and Ohio State, our guys have played pretty well. I’ll take our team against any team in the country. We’ve just played well on offense; defense has done a nice job. I think we’re the only team in the country that’s in the top five of scoring offense and scoring defense.”

What happened to turn your defense around since those two losses?:

“I think our kids, probably a little more on defense than any other phase of the team, realized that every play matters. Both of those games they played pretty well except for maybe four or five plays and those four or five plays cost us big. … And we’ve also had some injuries. This has probably been the most injury-prone year I’ve had as a head coach. We lost our starting corner, our best defensive end, and those things take their toll.”

As a guy who played in the Big Ten and is now coaching there, how exciting is this game?:

“I’d be pulling your leg if I didn’t tell you that this is something I’ve had earmarked since the concept of getting a 12th team in the league. … It’s a very competitive league. People want to beat us up here and there, but it’s a league that you’ve got to show up ready to play every weekend. To get to the championship game, to have a rematch against Michigan State, to play in Indianapolis I think is going to be a great environment.”

Could it have played out any better to be back and have a shot against Michigan State, given how that game ended on the final play?:

“A lot of people are drawn to that. I think our kids are excited about the opportunity and to have Michigan State there, who I really do feel the two best teams in our league are represented in the championship game. … The winner of the game gets to go to the Rose Ball. That’s what’s at stake.”

On Montee Ball now being in the talk of the Heisman Trophy race:

“Montee has done a tremendous job. He’s got 34 touchdowns and over 1,600 yards rushing against some really good defenses in our league. To do it quietly, like he has, is just exceptional. … He’s five touchdowns away from breaking the all-time NCAA record set by Barry Sanders. He already has the Wisconsin record, already has the Big Ten record. … He’s only played in basically two fourth quarters.”

Do you wish there was a playoff in college football?:

“I think the world of college football maybe deserves a plus-one. I’ve always said that I really like the idea of 1 playing 4 and 2 playing 3 and the winner plays in a game. I know this, we’re playing our 13th game in 14 weeks. We’re not a professional football team. Our kids have class, they have academics. … If we put another four- or five-game schedule on our kids’ docket, it’s just unfair to them.”

Listen to Bret Bielema on 1070 The Fan in Indianapolis here

Kirk Cousins joined The Dan Patrick Show to talk about whether or not teachers ask him for tickets or an autograph, whether or not he was surprised that Wisconsin called a timeout when Michigan State had the ball on the final drive, on the conference realignment, what he saw on the Hail Mary to Keith Nichol, if he would’ve been prepared to go into overtime if the officials didn’t overturn the call on the field, what he thinks of Andrew Luck and some of the other quarterbacks in college football, and whether or not he thinks he can play at the next level.

Whether or not he has had professors ask for tickets or autographs:

“They’ve never asked for tickets but my professor on Tuesday morning, I had an 8 AM class, she said you know Kirk I don’t want to embarrass you but that was one of the most exciting games I’ve ever seen. She made the whole class applaud. I kinda felt bad if there were some kids in the class that didn’t want to applaud, she kinda made them.”

If he was surprised that Bret Bielema called timeout when Michigan State had the ball on the final drive:

“It was surprising. I would say that it’s a little bit against the grain to call a timeout there when you’re not in the two minute situation yourself. It was fortunate it worked out in our favor but I think what Coach Bielema was trying to do was put us in a fourth down punting situation and bring the house and block the thing.”

On the conference realignment taking place:

“No I think the landscape of college football is going to change over the next five to ten years. What I remember being college football growing up and what I remember having played and being a part of when I’m telling my kids about college football it will be a completely different scene. Who knows where we’re headed but it certainly looks like it’s gonna be two, three, or four super conferences that are really gonna be loaded with main teams.”

What he saw on the final Hail Mary play:

“From where I was from behind the 50 yard line I didn’t have an ability to really perceive the depth of how close Keith Nicol was to the goal-line when he tried to make the reach for the touchdown. I thought because they ruled it not a touchdown that we were two or three yards out. We were that close but we would have to go to overtime. I ran down to see where the ball was spotted and realized it was spotted on the one inch line so when it was spotted that close I knew we had a chance with a review and so I went over to some cameramen on the sideline who worked for the mothership and they told me they were hearing it was gonna be a touchdown. That’s when I started feeling really good about it.”

Whether or not he would’ve been okay with going into overtime:

“You would prefer to just end it right there and I was very thankful for replay but at the same time we felt good about what we were gonna be able to do in overtime with the defense that we have and the plays that we had left in our back pocket. Wisconsin was playing at a high level at that point and they were on their way back in the game and really had the momentum. The chance to end it right there was to our advantage.”

What he makes of Andrew Luck and other QB’s in college football:

“I was out at the Manning camp this summer early in July with everybody you named there and it was great to get to know those guys as people, not just football players. To be able to throw the ball next to them and pick their brains a little bit. They’re all very talented, it seems like it’s a loaded year for quarterbacks as most years are. I will say that Andrew Luck, great player, but the thing that I do have on him, I think I got him in the looks department and I think I got him in table tennis. I could take him any day in ping pong.”

Whether or not he thinks he can play at the next level:

“I think I can play next level. I think I can play next level, but I have a few more weeks to prove that to people and going on a show like this can help me get out there.”

Who he would give his Heisman Trophy vote to:

“I think there’s something special about Kellen Moore out there at Boise State. The way he just continually wins, puts up video game type numbers, and I spent a week with him at another camp and he was really impressive just in terms of his knowledge of the game and his ability to make great decisions which is what great quarterbacks do.”

Listen to Kirk Cousins on The Dan Patrick Show here

Tom Izzo joined WDFN in Detroit with Shep and Sharp to talk about how much more work is put in when preparing for a team they have not played, which player on UCLA poses the biggest mismatch, and how he tries to get his team to realize the NCAA tournament is like another season.

How much more work is put in when preparing for a team they have not played:

“Well it is a lot of fun Matt (Shepard) to be honest with you.  It is a fun time of year because you just try to watch everything you can watch.  I think we have 20-something films on UCLA and you realize that in the NCAA the chances of it coming down to a 3, 4, 5 point game are pretty good.  In saying that, that is the difference, can you figure out a way that maybe they don’t cut out well on free throws, maybe they don’t do this well, maybe they don’t do that well or maybe they do things real well that you can counter, you know, so that is the fun part of the NCAA tournament, but it usually comes down to kind of, who has the most energy?  Everybody is going to study everybody’s stuff, I think it comes down to, who has the most energy?  If the players’ talent are somewhat similar.”

Which player on UCLA poses the biggest mismatch:

“I think it is Honeycutt, he is 6’8’’.  Right now our wing guys are more 6’1’’, 6’3’’, 6’4 and I think Summers is going to have…  I don’t know why but I feel that this has been a tough year for Durrell, and I think he is going to bounce back, but him having to go against a 6’8’ guy is a little bit more difficult.  Last year we had Raymar Morgan, who was 6’8’’ himself.  The big guys inside we can rotate people, the guard guards with the quickness with Appling, and of course, Kalin, I think we can handle that, but it is a difficult matchup.  Penn State had a kid, Brooks, at 6’8’’ sometimes that gives us a little bit of a problem.”

How he tries to get his team to realize the NCAA tournament is like another season:

“Well you got to tune them out to the outside because that happens a lot, because they watch TV, they listen to the radio, they read the newspapers, they get twitter, and they get texts, they go through all that, but I think that is one thing.  The second thing is, what is unique about is, two years ago we went to the Final Four with a pretty good team.  Last year we went to the Final Four with a mass unit.  You look at three starters that could barely play in the Final Four because of injuries so they have seen it done both ways and, you know, we lost in the first round of the Big Ten tournament and made the Final Four, we have won the whole thing and made a Final Four, so when you have some history and tradition, and then you have players.  Don’t forget, we have six players that have been to two Final Fours, so I think you can go back to that, are you begging, borrowing and stealing a little bit?  But sure, that is what life is all about, trying to get people to live in the present and motivate them to understand when they can’t do something, and when they have already done it before in some ways it makes it a little easier.”

How he would describe how this season has gone:

“Frustrating would probably be the best word because not angered because angered means…when you are angry about something you usually can fix it when you are frustrated you are either not sure exactly what it is or you tried so hard to fix it that it gets frustrating you.  I think everybody looks at the Luscious and Allen thing, ‘Boy the turmoil on the basketball team and this and that’, you know there is a little bit of truth to that.  I think more of the injuries and everything we went through trying to figure out where Kalin was, Adreian Payne, a lot of guys early, and then we had that early schedule it made it so tough and you lose a lot of those games and you lose your confidence, so frustrating because I listen to everybody outside, I don’t blame them, I see their point, I listen to fans and alums, but nobody understands some of the things that we did not have control of that just happened, losing big games that hurts your confidence and all those injuries we had all summer hurts your confidence, so it has been a frustrating year in that respect but kind of rewarding in this respect, Matt, we bounced back.  The last 10 games we played a lot better basketball, we got our defense back track, and we are not as good offensively.  You can’t lose two of your shooters and be as good offensively, but you know what, we were not as good offensively getting into the NCAA tournament last year once we lost Lucas and Chris Allen was hurt and Delvon Roe was hurt. So a lot of ways to skin a cat and this team has been there before, I like where we are right now.  I would like to be much better in some areas but I like the opportunity we have, we are excited about it.  It is not just ho-hum; three weeks ago we did not think we would be in the tournament maybe…”

Tom Izzo on WDFN in Shep and Sharp

With NCAA Tournament Selection Sunday right around the corner, the Spartans are in an unfamiliar territory right now: on the bubble. Michigan State has a decent resume at this point and of course the Spartans also have program notoriety on their side helping them nab a bid. And if they get in the tournament, a Tom Izzo team can never be counted out. However, the Spartans have some work to do and an early exit from the Big Ten Tournament could mean that Michigan State’s tournament chances will be put on life support.

Tom Izzo joined 790 the Zone in Atlanta with Mayhem in the AM to talk about what has gone wrong this season for Michigan State, what he thinks of the way the Big Ten tournament is growing, and whether or not he does anything extra to motivate his team when March rolls around.

What went wrong this year for his team:

“I’ve caught the perfect storm. You can call it whatever you want and I’ve got a lot of words I couldn’t call it on the radio, but I think the most important part is it’s not like we’ve completely fallen under. We lost two key players. One Chris Allen from your area who started 29 games from last year and a very, very good player, one of our best defenders, and he was our best three point shooter. Then we lost another kid named Korie Lucious. Both of those were surprise losses and so that starts us off with our two best shooters in trouble. Then we’ve had a schedule from hell. We’ve had some injuries, especially (Kalin) Lucas, our point guard, who really wasn’t healthy with that Achilles until probably the middle of January. As bad as it looks, especially to people far away, our fans, and our media, for me it doesn’t feel good, but I have a better understanding of the situation. That being said I don’t think I’ve coached as well so I’m gonna take some of the blame and then we’ll see what we can do now that it’s March. It’s not like you turn on a switch or anything but these guys have been through a lot. We’ve had a ton of injuries. We’re not dead yet. We’ve got a lot of basketball hopefully left to play. It hasn’t been a standard year up here but it’s been a humbling experience and sometimes that’s not bad either.”

How he feels about the way the Big Ten tournament has gone recently:

“Well it hasn’t played out as well for us, but I think the tournament is growing. We’re not like the ACC or the Big East because they’ve had 100 years of it it seems. The Big East is a heck of a conference, but it’s a strange conference. You look at the Big East, they play three teams twice and 12 teams once. Whether you play the best teams on the road or at home or the worst teams on the road or at home, it could be a two, three, or four game swing. It’s hard to evaluate and we’re down to only playing two teams once although next year we go to four with the addition of Nebraska. That’s the one thing I hate about it, I don’t know how committees can look at things because it’s never apples to apples and it makes it a lot more difficult. In the conference tournament, I think we’ve got like eight teams who have beaten people in the top or bottom and seems like everybody is beating everybody this year. It’s gonna be really up in the air and I think it’s going to be a very exciting tournament.”

Whether or not he plays any certain cards to motivate his team more:

“I play any card I can play to get me better than we are. I’ve smacked video tapes and I’ve read poetry. I think every coach does some things. Two years ago it was watching ‘On Any Given Sunday.’ The hardest part is you’ve got to find something that appeases 13 guys. No matter what you do, you still have to have players do what they do. Motivating is one thing but if there’s no self-motivation it’s hard to get as far as you need to get. I think most of my teams have been pretty driven. This one has been a little crazier, but a lot of the reasons were the injuries. And then the Lucas factor. If you take a quarterback away from any team, they’re not going to be as good. That hurt us for two thirds of this year, but yet we are getting better with it, our defense has been better, and hopefully we will play good enough that I can talk to you guys again after Selection Sunday but we’ve got a ways to go.”

Listen to Tom Izzo on 790 the Zone in Atlanta here