Has Tom Izzo Lost His Passion For Coaching? | The Valenti Show with Rico

[@bulldoghockey27]

I think Izzo will be there next year to coach Richardsons kid and then hes out. So many times over the past four years, his team gets down late in the second half and he just sits theres totally dispondent. Still havent gotten over the Iowa game last were when they lost even though they were up double digits with 1:30 remaining. Or, if you really want to pinpoint where Izzo started to lose it, look to the Syracuse game when he played Ben Carter over Jaren Jackson. He also had a week to prepare for Boehiems full press and zone defense and he did jack shit to prepare for it.

[@qualityesports7802]

2:45 Wow. As a relatively young man, with an older-than-usual for my age father, I know EXACTLY what you mean. That hit hard, you’re real AF Rico 🫡

[@keithzastrow]

I'm just here to say I've been posting on social media for 3+ years now that he needs to be done. His teams have (for the most part) declined since the entire freedom of movement rule went into effect because since then his teams could no longer play the type of D Izzo had them playing prior to that rule. We all watched it happen. I'm an MSU alum and love the man and all he has done for the program and MSU as a whole but this season has been TOTALLY UNNACCEPTABLE! We were a consensus top 5 team preseason and for good reason. From top to bottom we have more talent (again, as a WHOLE) than ANY other B1G team....yes even Purdue. Bye Tom.

[@brettfeinbaum]

This all started when he benched Jaren Jackson Jr. for Ben Carter in the 2018 Tournament

[@stevebrown2145]

Izzo has always done less with more.

[@LIamaLlama554]

We will 100% beat Purdue

[@andrewbradley5235]

Nailed it right on the head when Izzo may have resented the crowd and teammates cheering when Booker hit that three. This just shows me Izzo's unwillingness and stubborness to accept how the game has changed and not sticking to what actually works. If it was up to Izzo, he'd want Booker being super physical, back you down in the paint, and rebound/box out like crazy. Although those are important and vital to win, that is not what Booker is currently. Izzo could have embraced Booker, utilized him down the stretch, and we actually could have won. But instead he went to the inept Sissoko down the stretch where we were playing 4 v 5 on offense and quite frankly, defense. Izzo epitomizes the old saying "If you always do what you have always done, you will always get what you have always gotten."

[@skoop651]

defense is necessary

[@user-ph1dq5il2v]

@@skoop651When you’re playing a guy in Sissoko who is a non factor on offense, you’re actually losing more on offense than you’re gaining on the defense side. It’s an overall net negative.

[@Joe-pq1fo]

He's 67,. His son is on the team as a graduate student, likely in his last year of eligibility. I wouldn't be surprised if he announces his retirement as soon as the season is over.

[@andrewscott7067]

It’ll be better for the program if he does go too

[@evansj3j3]

@@andrewscott7067 by far the most incredibly idiotic thing I have ever read in my 39 years on this planet.

[@andrewscott7067]

@@evansj3j3 why is that? We’ve all seen what he’s become. We’re now a .500 program in the big ten and a perennial first weekend exit.

[@evansj3j3]

@scott7067 Well for starters, it's Coach Izzo's program. You fire a LEGEND who has yet to not make the final four every 5 years since he replaced coach Heathcote. Literally check the stats, every 5 years a final 4. Has yet to miss a NCAA tournament. Just so happens was the last B1G team to ever win the National Championship, so yeah let's get rid of a guy because he doesn't fit the bar he set himself. This kind of nonsense, is what happened to our football program, what happened when you fair weather pos wanted Dantonio gone? Got some idiot beating his pud on facetime. The game has changed since the good days, because there are no good days in college anymore, these players, fans, lack discipline. Because you just don't show up and demand money and expect to win, Victory is Earned. You have to buy into the process, if you don't you just hit the portal. Izzo is the best we will ever have and or get. This negative nonsense hurts US and no one else. Best way to kill a program is this, so keep it up and find out.

[@conroy5087]

I believe he's 69. 😊

[@spiderwebmarketing2424]

The biggest drop off Ive noticed with Izzo over the recent years is the lack of front court development. How can Sissoko be his best option at center for the past 4 years?

[@dannyclaypool8469]

What if this team makes a final four how much a clown is this guy gonna look

[@keithzastrow]

lol like there's even a chance in hell of that happening

[@TheLimeJuicy]

Ive never been so incensed about a team and coach in my life. And im a clippers and dodgers fan. This team is far and away the most disappointing season of any sports team ive ever watched and cared about. The game has passed Izzo by and there isn’t a successor in place like there was at the Duke and UNCs of the world. We’re about to hit a dark period here and I wouldn’t be surprised in the slightest if Booker leaves. Lord knows I would

[@needmoney666]

True. Booker should have played more in the second half but Izzo loved playing Mady at crunch time for whatever reason.

[@skoop651]

He does not wish to leave

[@andrewboudreau5279]

It’s tough. As a yooper I’ve always been proud Izzo is from my homeland and even tho I’m not a Spartan fan it’s been fun. I think the changes have killed his love of the game. I won’t be surprised at all if he’s done after this season or soon after.

[@Because4545]

You want to know Izzo being stubborn. Look at his bench of BFF assistant coaches. He is the Dantonio of Basketball.

[@skoop651]

people that have been there for a long time and know the team?

[@andrewscott7067]

It’s sad seeing the amount of MSU fans in the comments who refuse to blame Tom. He has done nothing but stick the wide end of a rake up the fans’ asses for 4 years and you’ve got an army of people in the comments going “oh I want some more, please do it again”

[@skoop651]

it's also stupid when people want to fire a coach despite consistent tournament appearances as if most teams have that expectation

[@andrewscott7067]

@@skoop651 consistent tournament appearances isn’t what MSU should be nor what it was when Izzo was in his prime. MSU basketball should be about consistent challenging for Big ten titles and consistent deep runs in the tournament, none of that occurs anymore. Here’s a great analogy if you’re a local, Tom izzo and MSU have become the Jim Caldwell lions and that’s just not good enough. Furthermore you have to fire your Jim Caldwells of the world in order to get to your Brad Holmes/Dan Campbell’s of the world, even if that means hiring a few flops like Quintricia along the way.

[@steve_smith3133]

😂

[@YTSparty]

It feels like Izzo doesn't have a plan, he doesn't know how to play his team. The worst thing about Booker was early on Izzo acted like he was forced to recruit him. "He's too thin, he can't play with bigger players, who knows when he'll be ready". As if he didn't go out and recruit the kid. It's a mess. Why Izzo is known for being great, doesn't work any more. Crappy rebounding, weak, soft marshmallow players. AJ and Hall taking plays off. Weak. Izzo stopped complaining, maybe that's the first sign he's given up.

[@evansj3j3]

Coach Izzo will never give up. I hope the majority of the hate-layers and nay-sayers can learn that. It should be easy, he leads by example. If anyone wants to debate based on facts not opinion, let's start a live video chat and I'll put it on youtube myself if you want that smoke. I am beyond sick and tired of listening and reading nonsense. AJ had to guard Thornton for those who don't follow College Hoops that is OSU's best player and held him to 11 points. Malik went 5-9 from the field 1-3 from the 3 and 4-4 from the foul line. Do any of you whom are commenting understand the game of Basketball at all? I am beyond sick of reading and listening to this negativity without value or credibility to do so.

[@YTSparty]

@@evansj3j3 I hope he does obviously. That stretch against Iowa where they went up 15 pts, AJ was standing around. Hall has TWO turnovers in each of the last 2 games and its not like he's a point guard. Hall was horrible against Minnesota. The first half of the OSU game was exciting, it looked like Izzo had figured it out. Then a colossal coaching disaster. Izzo's hand was shaking at the end of the game. He looks lost. The lineups made no sense. If Izzo misses the tourney will you still be unrelenting in your support of where a once #4 team ends up with Izzo?

[@eldenbling2615]

He's just too old, and refuses to change. Just quit, Tom. wtf are you doing? You're tarnishing your reputation

[@AlexAlexBoBalex]

That lineup with Holloman, Walker, Carr, Cooper, and Kohler was a trainwreck that seemed to last for half an hour.

[@YTSparty]

Holoman was TERRIBLE. And Walker appears to be hurt, he also was horrible. I was getting all giddy thinking Walker had no points and we were up by 10.

[@skoop651]

they are not bad players@@YTSparty

[@noah.conley]

Rico Izzo said himself he wants to go out like Saban and doesn’t want a retirement tour… Izzo will be here til Fears goes pro

[@moose800]

Fears is going pro huh? Lol. Dude played like 8 games as a back up but yeah he's a pro lol

[@noah.conley]

@@moose800 in like 2-3 years yes he is! He was a 5 star and McDonald’s all American for a reason! Cassius wasn’t a world beater his freshman year and Tyson was D-2

[@noah.conley]

@@moose800 Fears is the starting PG next year and will be a lot better!

[@moose800]

@@noah.conley most 5 stars don't sniff the pros

[@noah.conley]

@@moose800 in basketball it’s a lot higher percentage! There is only like 30 5 stars each year. Especially McDonald’s all Americans… MSU’s last two McDonald’s all Americans were Miles and Jaren

[@robertjulieannanalett1691]

Tom Izzo has been a great coach but last night watching him after the game he looked extremely tired he had no enthusiasm at all and you could barely hear him talking as he just kept looking down. I think like a lot of coaches who are getting out they're tired the way the game has gone in the last few years. That goes for football and basketball the college game is over.

[@hail2thevictors]

Atleast there is footb-… wait

[@keithzastrow]

Actually there is now that we have a great coach. And don't worry your pretty little head. Once the NCAA drops the hammer on little sister (likely in April) for 3 years of cheating you can kiss that NC buh-buy lol. Vacated wins coming your way.

[@ajm865]

Wow Valenti didn’t call in sick today?

[@malikwardia]

idk if izzo is losing passion for coaching, the issue is that he isn’t adjusting to his old school mentality to todays game, booker had a plus 11 while mady didn’t do sh!t… again, but since mady is a senior he’ll always get the nod over booker, insanity

[@skoop651]

why did bridges, jaren jackson, and draymond green get a lot of minutes as freshmen then?

[@malikwardia]

@@skoop651 draymond didn’t play much as a freshmen, bridges and JJJ were just better than booker is rn, but given how crappy the center spot is for us, why not give booker a chance over mady and cooper? your saying he can’t do better than them? he’s just flat out better, plus tom still going with the 2 big line up, like why???

[@jamesfox5105]

24 years and counting of a overrated coach.

[@lhcmknrb]

Izzo leaving with the recruits he has coming in? No chance. I’m positive he hates this team. They stink. He’s looking forward lol.

[@ronaldlee6115]

Izzo isnt missing shots, his players are. 100% on them, wide open shots and they just werent falling. If it was one shooter they would have been fine but it was their 2 best shooters. Next game they may be on fire, who knows, its basketball but you cant blame izzo for missed shots. Although a little more Booker in the 2nd half may have helped.

[@moose800]

This is such a garbage take. That loss was completely on izzo. Izzo put out the worst lineups he could in the second half that caused them to blow a 10 point lead and here you are talking about 2 players not shooting well. GTFO lol

[@evansj3j3]

What credibility do you have to say anything @moose800. Did you take MSU to a final 4 every 5 years since being hired? You sound like a pissed off player who never got off the bench in high school. This energy is detrimental to the program. If you're a MSU fan, find another team to cheer for. This mentality doesn't fit the culture Coach Izzo or Coach Dantonio or Coach Heathcote BUILT. And Mike and Rico, who on EARTH wouldn't be broken when all someone hears or reads after decades of bringing this school, fans and alumni the success that spoiled these fair-weather scumbags, reading and listening to nothing but idiotic negative feedback from 95% of people who never played or coached on that level. This illustrates PERFECTLY what is wrong with College Sports now. You're damned if you do, damned if you don't. Fans need to hold themselves accountable as well. Fans are also the program. So again, you want to see Sparty Hoops back, stop being a POS fan and support your team, instead of destroying it.

[@noah.conley]

That loss was on players, Tyson and Akins shot 6-26 hard to win big ten games when that happens…

[@bigblackcoffee5083]

Who recruited those players?

[@noah.conley]

@@bigblackcoffee5083Tyson and Akins are good players! They both had off nights. The big problem of this team is the center spot with Mady and Cooper it’s been holding them back all year… I watch all these games and attended the Duke game in Chicago and Michigan game in Ann Arbor

[@sweetkicker4192]

And he kept Sisoko in when he needed a scoring big. Sisoko can't score and plays frantically. When I see that I scratch my head as to what he is thinking.

[@rasing5529]

At what point do you hold players accountable? This team has no consistent hunger. They get up for the big games but if they would’ve won the games they should we’d be in the top 3 of big

[@moose800]

Garbage take. Players aren't good because izzo hasn't developed them and he consistently puts out atrocious rotations like having Cooper, sissoko and Carr on the floor together. Team has been bad for 4 years and they keep getting worse. Blame the players my ass lol

[@RandyLex-wu6jy]

No it’s called life Tom will be back hope fully this show wont

[@noah.conley]

MSU is still a lock to make tournament unless they lose out! They are top 25 in Ken pom

[@HeizKrea]

Who cares ...they dont do shit in the tournament anyway

[@ericspicer5132]

If they lose out they'll likely be like 35-40 which is not a lock and would put them out with a 17-15 record. They'd have no shot realistically

[@noah.conley]

@@ericspicer5132 they aren’t losing out! Northwestern on senior night is a W and Indiana

[@noah.conley]

@@HeizKrea actually they do the best of any big ten school so not nothing

[@moose800]

@@noah.conley they've made it past the first weekend twice the past 8 years. And get of this childish "we do better than the rest of the BIG". The big ten absolutely blows and that stupid statement isn't even accurate. UM has had more tourny success and even lowly Purdue. Stop living in 2005

[@baxatakbaxatak2014]

No yelling and screaming? God, Mike’s become soft and weak.

[@Erica-vd1gb]

They lost to a dumpster team that fired their coach yeah it's time to makes change

[@sparte6856]

These might be the two most fair weather fans I’ve ever seen

[@moose800]

Fair weather? They've said the team and program was bad for 4 years now and he's right. But I'm guessing youre butt hurt about izzo getting called out

[@dmalak4509]

@@moose800Valenti predicted 5 years ago that Izzo will go out the same way of Gene Keady. It certainly seems to be an accurate prediction.

[@moose800]

@@dmalak4509 unfortunately I have to agree with that....

[@Erica-vd1gb]

At least he's doing better than Howard

[@CrocodileTears36]

Where’s the ‘sparty radio’ slappys now?

[@Brothahoskins]

Booker is transferring

[@Brothahoskins]

Hallas needs to grow a pair, and fire izzo 🔥

[@jesskelley4726]

I think izzo still will coach 3 or 4 more years Just been a off year I won't bet against Izzo They will be back next year

[@moose800]

They haven't been good for 5 years. What's this "they'll be back" bs when their 3 maybe 4 best players are leaving on an already garbage team?

[@jtruth33]

​@moose800 you realize in the covid year, Izzo was out for 2 weeks with Covid, and they completely shut the program down for 2 weeks and when it did open back up it led directly into big ten games where they got slaughtered? Throw that season out. It's a miracle they made the tournament under those circumstances.

[@jesskelley4726]

@@moose800 I just think they will be alot bettter next year sorry for being positive lol

[@MMenghini]

Valenti is annoying. The guy is a 40-something MSU grad that went directly into radio. No playing or coaching experience whatsoever, but acts like he's the authority and expert on MSU basketball. Give me a break. Izzo is a basketball genius. He's figuring out his way during a time when college basketball is being completely transformed and the transformation is on the verge of gutting the sport. If you allow one and done fifth year transfers to take over your program, you strip the culture from your program. It becomes strictly a business in buying wins, instead of building a culture and buying into a program. Izzo's methodology has made him one of the most successful coaches in history, and, if guys buy into his system, his system will continue to be successful. No blue blood program with a coach that plays by the rules is successful every year. Izzo has been the most consistent. It's easy for Valenti to call for Izzo's head because Valenti hasn't done anything but criticize sports teams and coaches in his career. That's how he makes his money. An easy job with no expectation to win, but get ratings based on how much you can criticize. As for Izzo, MSU is lucky to have him and will regret it long term if they push him out. The next group of guys that truly buys into his system with no excuses will win a National Championship. If they don't, MSU won't have success.

[@KA-vl5jq]

Now you talk shit about him when he talks about your favorite little team..

[@andrewscott7067]

I think we found Tom izzos burner😂

[@evansj3j3]

100% this illustrates vividly clear….the differential between a MSU “fan” and a Spartan Dawg. I’m with ya, hope more of us can destroy this negativity before it destroys us. Go Green!

[@detroitskunk4]

Tom Izzo needed to retire 5 years ago. Guy is washed up.

[@theprogressivemichigander6588]

Is Booker making excuses? Is Walker? Is Hoggard? Is Hall? Is Sissoko? Is Cooper? Is Akins? The only player I'd argue has made excuses at times is Hoggard. If Izzo wanted to yell at them more in practice or whatever he thinks he can't do, he could have. What he couldn't do without hamstringing the team was play Booker as little as he does when Sissoko and Cooper can't catch a ball or shoot. Its robbed Booker of development and robbed the team of any spacing.