BREAKING: Tom Izzo Still Unhappy with “Sloppy” Second Halves During Spartans’ 13-Game Winning Streak
East Lansing, MI — In true Tom Izzo fashion, winning isn’t always enough.
Despite the Michigan State Spartans currently riding a remarkable 13-game winning streak—the program’s longest since 2013—Izzo isn’t cracking a full smile. In the postgame press conference following the Spartans’ gritty 78–65 win over Wisconsin, the Hall of Fame coach didn’t hesitate to voice his frustration over what he described as “sloppy, careless, and mentally lazy” second-half performances.
“Look, I love this group,” Izzo began. “They’ve fought hard, they’ve found ways to win. But we haven’t played a complete 40 minutes in over a month. That’s not Michigan State basketball.”
While the Spartans have dominated first halves, averaging a +12 scoring margin before halftime, their second-half numbers tell a different story. Over the last five games, MSU has been outscored in the final 20 minutes by a combined 14 points—a stat Izzo referred to as “inexcusable.”
The veteran coach has harped on defensive lapses, unforced turnovers, and poor shot selection as key culprits. “We get comfortable,” Izzo said. “It’s like we play 25 good minutes and then expect the game to fold. That’s a recipe for a March meltdown.”
Senior guard Tyson Walker echoed Izzo’s concerns. “Coach is right—we’ve let teams back in it. We’ve got to lock in for the full 40. We can’t let good teams hang around.”
Still, the Spartans’ winning streak includes victories over four ranked opponents, including a thrilling overtime win against Purdue that saw sophomore Jaden Akins hit a buzzer-beater three. But even then, Izzo’s focus wasn’t on the shot—it was on the missed defensive rotations that let Purdue erase a 14-point lead.
As Izzo put it: “I don’t coach to win streaks. I coach to championships. And championships aren’t won with sloppy second halves.”
With March looming, the message is clear: perfection is the standard in East Lansing. Even during a streak, Izzo is pushing for more.
