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Posted by eleem (Member # 884) on 03-02-2015, 05:00 PM:

Earlier today, Tom Izzo got the week off to a very interesting start when IU reporter Jeff Rabjohns tweeted out a few of his comments regarding Kentucky’s undefeated run from the Big 10 teleconference. “I’m not sure I’m crazy about the way everything has worked out, what it’s going to do for college basketball,” Izzo said. “It’s an incredible accomplishment whether he’s got 12 pros or 10.”

The comments started a firestorm on Twitter, because, let’s be honest, it looked like Izzo was being super salty. He’s always been a vocal opponent of the one-and-done rule, but to bring up his issues with it when asked about Kentucky’s historic season seemed disingenuous. This afternoon, we finally got all of Izzo’s comments from the call, and in retrospect, they’re not quite so bad:

“It’s different in some ways … I think John has done a hell of a job. I’m not sure I’m crazy about the way everything has worked out; I don’t know what it will do for college basketball and everything like that. But he has withstood the pressure, he has dealt with the young guys. I think that has been great. Bobby Knight’s team, from what I know of it, was built on a lot more veterans and I don’t know what you’d consider.

I know the SEC isn’t as strong and I don’t know where the Big Ten was then. I don’t know who they played in the non-conference … there are so many things I don’t know. But I know this: If you can go undefeated in ’76, 2015 or 3012, that’s an incredible accomplishment. No matter who you play, that pressure is very difficult. I give him a lot of credit for how he has handled this team, what they’ve done and I don’t know how you compare the two, to be honest.”

Where did the pros quip come in? Izzo was asked what it must be like to manage an “NBA roster” of talent like Kentucky’s:

“I think John has a niche. It’s easier because it’s harder to control the, as you say, NBA roster, but the niche is that if you don’t (perform), you don’t play. He has another guy there who could also be on an NBA roster. Most of us don’t have that. So you have to put up with a little more (trouble), maybe, and most of us don’t have that issue. But he has issues, like: How do they defend? How do they run an offense?

You’re talking about a lot of young kids and he has done it as well as anybody as far as getting those kids ready to play. They’ve been progressing and have had a chance to grow. It has worked. He has done it. If they go undefeated it’s an incredible accomplishment no matter if he has 12 McDonald’s All-Americans, instead of 10. Or 12 pros. It’s still difficult to do that, especially with young guys.”

Not so bad after all, which makes me feel better because I actually really like Tom Izzo.

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Posted by handycat (Member # 2323) on 03-02-2015, 05:08 PM:

I like Izzo and IMO there is not much there to disagree with.

Posted by AshTuckyUKfan (Member # 3065) on 03-02-2015, 05:35 PM:

His comments seemed honest and I didn't pick up on any jealousy or hate towards the program. But the whole I don't know what it will do for college basketball thing is a little odd, the only thing it will do to the sport is erase Indiana from being the most recent undefeated team. It happens in women's hoops all the time and their product is at its highest level IMO.

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 03-02-2015, 06:23 PM:

I thought these were interesting comments by Izzo on our scheduling. I personally think our non-conference schedule was awfully tough playing teams like Kansas, Providence, Texas, North Carolina, UCLA, North Carolina, and Louisville. These teams may not have been as strong as they have been in the past but when they were scheduled you knew that these teams have always been thought of as cream of the crop teams.

I know the SEC isn’t as strong and I don’t know where the Big Ten was then. I don’t know who they played in the non-conference … there are so many things I don’t know. But I know this: If you can go undefeated in ’76, 2015 or 3012, that’s an incredible accomplishment. No matter who you play, that pressure is very difficult. I give him a lot of credit for how he has handled this team, what they’ve done and I don’t know how you compare the two, to be honest.”

Posted by SCWC (Member # 2464) on 03-02-2015, 06:37 PM:

I may be in a minority on this but I was rather offended by the way he referenced Kentucky and the SEC as a conference. I think he is a great coach but feel he should have kept his mouth shut on an issue like this. He has had to do some back tracking to get himself off the hook on his original comments.

And five of our non conference teams were top twenty five material when we played them and all but Texas still are. Providence is now a top 25 team which is another team we beat in our non conference schedule.

[ 03-02-2015, 06:40 PM: Message edited by: SCWC ]