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Final chat Izzo discusses title game with Galanos, O'Neill
Posted: Monday April 03, 2000 12:02 AM
Michigan State coach Tom Izzo is one victory away from capturing his first national championship and the Spartans' first title since 1979. On the eve of Michigan State's date with Florida, Izzo sat down with CNNSI.com's Mike Galanos and Northwestern coach Kevin O'Neill, a Big Ten rival and CNNSI.com's NCAA tournament analyst. Kevin O'Neill: Got anything to say about your season? Tom Izzo: It's been a good season for us, Kevin, as you know. It's been one of those ones that you went through a few times at Arizona where you just keep winning games and I think it just starts building and that's what's happened to us. KO: Well, we've talked a couple of times. This team has a special feeling. You and Cleaves have a special relationship. He's like a conduit between you and the rest of the guys. You guys have a respect level for each other. That's really made it easy for you. You may not have another relationship with a player like you've had with him. TI: Well, I definitely agree. And as you said, we did talk about it a few times. You went through those things with (Steve) Kerr and (Sean) Elliott. And sometimes special teams usually have special relationships between players and coaches. And that's probably, as you said, the conduit between them. It's what keeps the team focused and makes them think a little bit more like you because he relays the message. And that's what's happened to this team this year. And consequently, we've won a lot of games. Mike Galanos: Beyond Mateen, how special is this team? Is this the kind of group that you just stop and say that's why I love doing what I'm doing? TI: Yeah, I think so. We have our problems just like everybody else. But I've really got a bunch of guys that work hard, that don't have big egos. They're fun to coach and they're fun to be around -- in hotels, airplanes. We (coaches) spend a lot of time with our teams when you're in season. And it's not a lot of fun if you've got guys that aren't a lot of fun to be with, but this team has been fun to be with. MG: Let's talk about the experience. People are still in awe. You win the game of your life Saturday. Then you stare at the next game of your life. What's gone on since that Wisconsin game? TI: A lot of film. You just go home and just grind film like every coach does. It doesn't change. Everybody's in the same position. So we spent a lot of time last night, spent a little time today and we'll spend a lot of time tonight and then none of it will matter because it really comes down to how the players play the game. KO: That's right. Not a lot of secrets really at this point. Everybody's seen everybody. Everybody knows what's up. There might be one or two adjustments you make. You might make one adjustment at halftime. It just comes down to the players going out and performing. And Tom would agree with this. I think in college, college coaches get too much credit and take too much blame. In the pros, it's all the players anyway. The players are really going to decide the game tomorrow night -- which should be a great game, by the way. MG: Let's talk about those players. As you look at Florida, the thing that jumps out is that press. What are you going to do about that? TI: Well, the press jumps out and the clones they keep bringing in. It seems like one guy comes in and replaces another guy and it's the same guy with a different number on his jersey. A shooter comes in for a shooter, an athlete comes in for an athlete. A strongman comes in for a strongman. He's done a great job collecting 10 players that I think are interchangeable as far as playing five and five. And that makes their press more effective because they don't have to worry about foul trouble. They don't have to worry about wearing down. They don't have to worry about not taking chances. They can play real free because of the number of players they have. KO: Well, they're talented. One through 10, they're talented. And I think that Billy's done a good job of making them believe that they aren't freshmen and sophomores and that they do belong here. And consequently, they're playing great basketball. TI: Well, as you said, when you play 37 games nobody is a freshman or a sophomore. You're almost a year beyond where you really are. And this is the first time for both of us (Izzo and Donovan) -- to be in the championship game. Yes, we have the experience from last year. I think that helped us early. I'm not sure now it matters any because we're in foreign territory too. MG: Coach (O'Neill), any advice? TI: Yeah, please give me some. KO: You've got to win, Tom, because I can't take you calling me up late at night complaining if you don't win this game. TI: Kevin, you've got to listen to that. I call him up and say, "This is tough, this is tough." I hear a pause and then he tells me about his season. MG: That's tough. Coach, good luck Monday night against Florida. TI: Thanks.
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