NEW YORK – The nation’s perception of Michigan State has changed drastically since early March when the Spartans lost to Illinois at home and then to Ohio State on the road. Coach Tom Izzo was quick to point that out to reporters Saturday as the Spartans prepared to meet Connecticut in the NCAA East Regional final.
“There were people putting a fork in us two weeks ago, and then two weeks later the President [Barack Obama] is picking us to win the whole [tournament],” Izzo said Saturday. “That was not easy [for the Spartans] to deal with. And I feel for them a little bit on that, but it’s been a good learning experience and hopefully it will make me a better coach and them better players.”
Michigan State (29-8, 12-6 Big Ten) was given the No. 4 seed in the East but became a trendy favorite to win the national championship after getting its lineup healthy and beating Northwestern, Wisconsin and Michigan to win the Big Ten tournament. UConn (29-8, 12-6 AAC), the No. 7 seed, has knocked off No. 10 Saint Joseph’s, No. 2 Villanova and No.3 Iowa State and has gained some recognition in the last week.
In addition, the Huskies enjoyed tremendous support from a vocal UConn crowd at Madison Square Garden Friday night. Izzo knows that will be another obstacle in Michigan State’s path to the Final Four.
“But we have actually played better on the road than we have at home,” Izzo said. “We lost four home games this year, which is un-American and illegal. We had a good group following us too, but UConn . . . it’s, as you say out East, it’s just a little 20-minute train ride. Who knows what that means. An hour? Two hours? You guys do it different. We’re on mileage where we’re from.”
The Huskies were asked about a variety of topics Saturday, from their homecourt advantage, to photo-bombing coach Kevin Ollie (a tradition that started when UConn beat Michigan State in the season opener in Germany last season), to Ollie’s playing ability now, and to the motivation that comes from last year’s postseason ban.
Check out a couple of videos from the breakout sessions with the Huskies. DeAndre Daniels, who scored 27 points to lead the Huskies past Iowa State, said the Garden reminded him of Gampel Pavilion Friday night.
Shabazz Napier said UConn understood it would take a lot of hard work to get back to this point in tournament.
“This is what it all comes down to,” Napier said.
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