Tom Izzo Best Quotations

These are two of the top athletes in the country, and they are in the best shape of their lives. It's a lot to build a team around.

No doubt our guards struggled. We made some big plays, and then we made some not-so-smart plays. It was a shame, because Paul Davis had two of the best practices of his life, and he just struggled tonight to even catch the ball.

I said 'Oh, it's gonna be a charge,' and then he jumped, I think, over him. I would normally joke and take credit for that, but that was so good I can't even joke and take credit. That will rank right up with the best I've seen.

What are they best at? They seem to be a very, very good defensive team, which concerns me because that's usually what wins at this time of the year.

What are they best at? They seem to be a good defensive team, which concerns me because that's usually what wins at this time of year. Not a lot of pressing, but just solid, get-after-you-a-little-bit defense. Maybe a poor man's Illinois in that respect.

Shannon Brown does have a knack for rising to the occasion in big games. He kind of thrives on the pressure. When I told him he had to take over a little bit, he did it in such a controlled way - even with that dunk he had, one of the best I've ever seen here.

You have to pick your poison. We just tried to stay up on the shooters and not sag as much on the inside. Dials did hurt us, but he didn't beat us. On that day, they missed some shots that I think were contested. And I think they missed some shots that weren't. They weren't on a hot streak like they are now. They were still shooting well. But, lately, they've been on just a barrage. Bruce (Weber) has one of the best defensive teams in the league, and if they can do that to Illinois, that's scary.

I kind of respect and understand his theory, because it's a lot like mine. He looks at it like the only way he's getting to the NCAA tournament is to win his league, so if he can go out and play some of the best teams and sell that in recruiting and it makes the university some money.

I don't think there's any question that was our best performance of the year, against a really good team. That was our best basketball in a couple of years.

He never made any excuses, ... He said he thought it would be a four-, five-year building process. He's a big-enough man, probably bigger than me, that he doesn't do his laundry outside of his office, even to his best friend.

The best news for me is we are playing the best defensive basketball we've played. I'm very optimistic because I do like what this team has to offer. ... (But) I think we're a mixed bag of nuts right now, to be honest with you.

I thought Maurice Ager might have had his best all-around game. He was unbelievable in the huddles, he was trying to get other guys shots, he made some passes, he made some shots, and his defense was the best it's been.

That was our best basketball game in maybe a couple years. This was close to a perfect game.