Michigan State coach Tom Izzo is happy about the way his team is playing:
"I've been seeing little things over the past week that's telling me that maybe they're starting to get it."
As this article in the Detroit Free Press states, nothing pleases a coach more than the players "taking ownership" of their tournament destiny:
"I've always maintained that you must have players coach themselves," Izzo said. "That was what stood out about the great teams we had here in the past. They didn't have to worry about me yelling at them, because it got to a point where Mateen (Cleaves) or Antonio (Smith) would do it. They have to police themselves, keep themselves in check."
During practice last Tuesday, Izzo was unusually quiet. The players knew he was upset with their poor performance days earlier in the Big Ten tournament. They expected the customary chorus from the four-letter aria. But Izzo merely observed. And that made the players angry.
Had he given up on them?
Had he figure what's the use?
But that was Izzo's plan: to see how the players would respond.
He got the reaction he sought. The players were the vocal ones, calling out one another for a blown defensive assignment. The normally soft-spoken Kalin Lucas upbraided senior captain
Travis Walton for not being in the right spot in an offensive set.
The players were more vocal in the huddle during time-outs against the Trojans. They didn't wait to be asked for input. Lucas told teammates that he would get them the ball where they needed it -- and they had better stick the shot!
"It was fun to see Kalin," Izzo said. "He really went at some people. He kept saying, 'Let me have the ball, and I'll get people a basket.' That was the first real time he's kind of talked like that. He wanted it. That was a big plus."
Walton gave Chris Allen a verbal lashing following a lazy pass that resulted in an easy USC lay-up in the second half that seemingly shifted the momentum in the Trojans' favor.
"This was one of our best communicating games," Walton said. "We were constantly talking about where we needed to be. And what needed to be done. Coach would still get on us, but there were times when he didn't have to because we were getting on each other about not making mistakes."
After his poor pass, Allen returned to the bench and wrapped his arm around Izzo, assuring him that he got the message.
"We're starting to gain more confidence in each other," Allen said. "We can say what needs to be said to each other because we're all committed to winning."
