Is Izzo really as good as the pundits say he is

[Cleaves2000]

I only issue I would have with Izzo is his regular season. His teams consistently under-perform preseason expectations during the season, only to make a NCAA run that makes you forget. I really can not explain it, perhaps he views the regular season as a training ground. Outside of that he is elite. Not sure there is a coach I would pick over him to coach one game.

Yeah if you watched an izzo team for a whole season you would know izzo schedules a hard non conference and uses the regular season to mess with his lineups....this year he was forced to even more with all the injuries.....its not like hes in the SEC or the A10 where going 29-4 isnt as hard....but playing on the road in wisky, michigan now, ohio st, iowa, minny, purdue in the past......those are hard away games not to mention always playing one of the top ACC teams in the challenge every year....

You have to remember also that izzo doesnt get the mcdonalds all americans every year also....very rarely does he get the guys that leave early for the pros....look how he turned drew neitzel into a college star.....draymond green into a star...the list goes on of 2-3 recruits that stay 4 yrs and get better in his system....gary harris is the first star hes had in awhile to prolly leave early.....shannon brown, jason richardson, and zach randolph are 3 stars he had who left early for the pro's....teams like UNC, kentucky and duke get that many stars in one year from high school....every year it seems.....

Izzo pitino and boheim come to mind with what they have done with the talent they get...


Izzo 1-0 vs donovan in big game...

 

[Cleaves2000]

Some of Tom's better teams have choked. I expect no different this year.

Which better teams choked? Is a sweet 16 a choke? Because michigan has ONE sweet 16 since 1994.

 

[Cleaves2000]

Really don't see the need to bring Donovan into this or make an argument either way. Both Donovan and Izzo are excellent coaches and both would be welcomed additions to just about any team looking for a new head coach. I have watched many more Florida games than MSU and can only speak to how I feel about Donovan. I think he is a top 10 coach along with Izzo, Shakka, K, Cal, JB, Miller, Self, Pitino and a whole bunch more. Most of it is about recruiting and leadership.

 

[Cleaves2000]

WTF? I don't bleed green but I am a Spartan...but don't really care for basket ball as much as hockey. I have seen enough disappointment/failures with Izzo, Heathcote, et al to not put too much hope into it...and I just don't buy the hype/love Izzo gets for what he has accomplished as far as Championships. so take it or leave it...it really has no bearing on my life!

Better stick to hockey....are you just as hard on the hockey coach for losing?..you do know its hard to win a national title right? Not many teams have won 2 championships since sparty won their last....

What failures with izzo? Hes been to 6 final 4's....please tell me which active coaches have done better than izzo.....im sure they will all be great coaches.....who get great recruits.....but still, tell me about these failures.

Pretty clearly youre trolling acting like a sparty fan.....izzo overated?.......but yet every year an NBA team is interested in him.

 

[Cleaves2000]

Izzo is a top-tier coach, without question. There aren't 5 coaches in the game that can boast a better resume than him.

That said, his reputation as an "overachiever" in the NCAA tournament is a bit unwarranted. His success in march has generally come with highly talented, highly regarded, highly seeded teams. Most of the times his teams advanced beyond their seeded expectation they benefited from upsets elsewhere in their bracket.

Like the year they beat number 1 seed louisville and number 1 seed uconn when the big east was supposed to be the greatest?

How bout in 2005 when they knocked duke out?

In 2000 beating fizer and Iowa st, syracuse, and beating billy donovan and the gators?


Any college team that goes to the tournament for nearly 20 straight years is going to get a break or 2 come tourney time.....just like any year you can have a bad game and be done....im happy with 6 final fours and a title from izzo...we were an NIT team when he took over. Just look at michigan fans....they are very excited and they been to the sweet 16 just once in 20 yrs.

 

[scoutyjones2]

Better stick to hockey....are you just as hard on the hockey coach for losing?..you do know its hard to win a national title right? Not many teams have won 2 championships since sparty won their last....

What failures with izzo? Hes been to 6 final 4's....please tell me which active coaches have done better than izzo.....im sure they will all be great coaches.....who get great recruits.....but still, tell me about these failures.

Pretty clearly youre trolling acting like a sparty fan.....izzo overated?.......but yet every year an NBA team is interested in him.

LOL...you must be a blood relative also. I offer up that I am not as fond of his accomplishments as he seems to get pubb'd. No need to think me a troll for offering a differing viewpoint. Especially when Donovan doesn't get nearly the recognition or publicity that Izzo does and yet he not only won 2 Championships, but won them back to back...and I dare say, with less of a recruiting class than Izzo. That is my contention, believe what you want, but when he falls short, AGAIN, let me know how great he still is...

 

[Cleaves2000]

LOL...you must be a blood relative also. I offer up that I am not as fond of his accomplishments as he seems to get pubb'd. No need to think me a troll for offering a differing viewpoint. Especially when Donovan doesn't get nearly the recognition or publicity that Izzo does and yet he not only won 2 Championships, but won them back to back...and I dare say, with less of a recruiting class than Izzo. That is my contention, believe what you want, but when he falls short, AGAIN, let me know how great he still is...

67 coaches will fall short.....many have NEVER even been to a final 4....i wouldnt say donovan has less talent in florida....his recruiting is on par with izzo....mike miller, haslem, noah, and the championship team had some pretty good talent.....

 

[Cleaves2000]

So your only argument is donovan has won 2 titles......give me a list of active coaches who are better than izzo...


Just imagine if izzo was at north carolina....being able to recruit the 5 stars.

 

[Codaxx]

So your only argument is donovan has won 2 titles......give me a list of active coaches who are better than izzo...


Just imagine if izzo was at north carolina....being able to recruit the 5 stars.

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this is BS. Plenty of people have built programs. Zona was nothign before Lute. Florida was nothign before Donovan. Basketball is not football and MSU is not Wichita State. Izzo is well established at this pt, so recruiting is completely on him.

 

[TrollyMcTroller]

Like the year they beat number 1 seed louisville and number 1 seed uconn when the big east was supposed to be the greatest?

How bout in 2005 when they knocked duke out?

In 2000 beating fizer and Iowa st, syracuse, and beating billy donovan and the gators?


Any college team that goes to the tournament for nearly 20 straight years is going to get a break or 2 come tourney time.....just like any year you can have a bad game and be done....im happy with 6 final fours and a title from izzo...we were an NIT team when he took over. Just look at michigan fans....they are very excited and they been to the sweet 16 just once in 20 yrs.

You mean in 2009, when MSU was a #2 seed and beat a #1 seed? Sorry. That's no more overachieving than a 9 over an 8.
In 2000 MSU was a 1 seed. No upsets to be had there.

2005 was probably Izzo's biggest (and only) significant tournament upset. Considering how long Izzo has been coaching, I don't think it's fair to label him as an "overachiever" in the tournament based on 1 win.

Don't get me wrong. I think Izzo is a great coach. He just doesn't deserve the "overachiever" rep he's gotten regarding the tournament. You should absolutely be happy with him and his results. Just don't try and paint him as the chippy underdog who goes out slaying giants. MSU is the giant in the tournament the vast majority of the time.

 

[Cleaves2000]

In 2007 donovan had the number 1 recruiting class according to rivals....2008 and 2009 they went to the NIT....in 2010 i believe they lost in 1st round of tourney.....but yet you say donovan is so much better than izzo...

Tell me....whens the last time izzo went to the NIT....Tell me if izzo EVER had a number 1 recruiting class in any year.....but yeah izzo comes up short again.....looked like donovan crashed 3 straight years.....dont get me wrong florida fans, i like donovan....just showing this troll should stick to hockey.

 

[Cleaves2000]

You mean in 2009, when MSU was a #2 seed and beat a #1 seed? Sorry. That's no more overachieving than a 9 over an 8.
In 2000 MSU was a 1 seed. No upsets to be had there.

2005 was probably Izzo's biggest (and only) significant tournament upset. Considering how long Izzo has been coaching, I don't think it's fair to label him as an "overachiever" in the tournament based on 1 win.

Don't get me wrong. I think Izzo is a great coach. He just doesn't deserve the "overachiever" rep he's gotten regarding the tournament. You should absolutely be happy with him and his results. Just don't try and paint him as the chippy underdog who goes out slaying giants. MSU is the giant in the tournament the vast majority of the time.

You made it sound like izzo played a bunch of bums because of upsets...i was just pointing out, they beat tough teams over the years...every team who makes tourney every year will come across some breaks.

 

[jonvi]

Coach Izzo has a plan and it works. He is able to find players capable of being molded. These players turn out very solid. Yearly he schedules a tough OOC and together with an always decent B10 schedule see's many more tough games. He plays a lot of players and by the time the tournament rolls around, he has a lot of good players to run in the game.

He's one of the best in my book. Does that equate to NC after NC....no, but it sure is fun to watch the roller coaster.

 

[Codaxx]

In 2007 donovan had the number 1 recruiting class according to rivals....2008 and 2009 they went to the NIT....in 2010 i believe they lost in 1st round of tourney.....but yet you say donovan is so much better than izzo...

Tell me....whens the last time izzo went to the NIT....Tell me if izzo EVER had a number 1 recruiting class in any year.....but yeah izzo comes up short again.....looked like donovan crashed 3 straight years.....dont get me wrong florida fans, i like donovan....just showing this troll should stick to hockey.

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I think he was close with the Flint brothers. I think that is a knock on Izzo, more than a positive.

 

[TrollyMcTroller]

You made it sound like izzo played a bunch of bums because of upsets...i was just pointing out, they beat tough teams over the years...every team who makes tourney every year will come across some breaks.

Agreed.

I think 2010 was the only year that MSU played a bunch of "bums" and made it to the Final Four. The vast majority of years, they've played solid competition. (But that's one of the years that people point to as one of MSU's "underdog" run when they beat a 4, 9 and 6 seed as a #5 seed)

 

[H2S]

thanks for snuffing the OP's flickery candle...

Don't get me wrong. I think Izzo is a great coach. He just doesn't deserve the "overachiever" rep he's gotten regarding the tournament. You should absolutely be happy with him and his results. Just don't try and paint him as the chippy underdog who goes out slaying giants. MSU is the giant in the tournament the vast majority of the time.

wowsers. If State has been/is anything close to the prominence you say...all the more credit to Izzo.

 

[Lions=TeHsUcKs]

Tom Izzo is one of the top 3 coaches in CBB IMO.. He does need 1 or 2 more championships on his resume though...

 

[Cleaves2000]

Tom Izzo is one of the top 3 coaches in CBB IMO.. He does need 1 or 2 more championships on his resume though...

I agree...one more title and hes elite....but right now hes great...

Just look at a coach like bo ryan, who puts up great regular season stats then vanishes in march...he doesnt even have ONE final 4...but wisky fans think hes great...


Just still wondering who the original poster thinks is better than izzo right now.....a bunch of great ones i would have to bet..

 

[Cleaves2000]

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this is BS. Plenty of people have built programs. Zona was nothign before Lute. Florida was nothign before Donovan. Basketball is not football and MSU is not Wichita State. Izzo is well established at this pt, so recruiting is completely on him.

Hows it BS? I live in chicago and follow the recruits here closely.....tyler ulis was all but headed to sparty the last 2 yrs. he plays 5 mins from my house at marion catholic..seen him play many times....izzo was in town ALOT over the last 2 yrs...as soon as kentucky came calling, he went to them...it is widely known around here that he chose the branding of kentucky over sparty and iowa.....same with tyus jones and okafor.....they were both heavily recruited by izzo for the last few yrs....and they chose duke.....cliff alexander....chose kansas even tho i think that had to do with more of his GF.....jabari parker....chose duke.....its hard for a huge recruit to ignore the big names of UNC, duke, or kentucky. Izzo tries to get the guys that will stay 4 yrs over 1-2....gary harris is his first underclassman to leave early for the NBA since shannon brown....if izzo coached at kentucky......he could recruit just as good as calipari but would be able to coach better than him. My opinion.


But to say izzo is overated is crazy....i put pitino izzo and donovan in the same class..

 

[Cleaves2000]

Tom Izzo is one of the top 3 coaches in CBB IMO.. He does need 1 or 2 more championships on his resume though...

I respect that coming from a michigan fan.....coach K, boeheim, are prolly 1-2 right now.....then you have pitino, izzo, donovan, self, williams..........in no specific order.......am i forgetting anyone? I believe you at least have to win one title to be in the talk....otherwise a coach like shaka is good....imagine him at a school that could recruit.