Izzo a fan of UALR tenacity
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. ? After Saturday?s 72-67 loss to No. 13 Michigan State at Grand Rapids, Mich., Spartans Coach Tom Izzo took UALR Coach Steve Shields aside and praised the effort of the Trojans.
He also stepped onto the UALR team bus and spoke to both Shields and the players.
When asked about the Trojans in the postgame media conference, he gave rave reviews.
?I told Steve after the game that I thought his team played with a tenacity that we?re really just missing,? Izzo said in his postgame news conference. ?It wasn?t that we played poorly, more that I thought they played pretty well.?
Shields was appreciative of Izzo?s words, calling him, ?classy.?
?P.P.T.P.W.?
When Michigan State won the 2000 NCAA national championship, Coach Tom Izzo had the letters ?P.P.T.P.W.? inscribed on the bronze plaque commemorating the team in a corner of the court at the Breslin Center in Lansing Mich.
It stands for ?Players play, tough players win.?
Izzo said UALR was the tougher team in the Spartans? 72-67 victory over the Trojans Saturday at the Van Andel Center in Grand Rapids, Mich.
After the game, Izzo let his players know it: ?It?s simple. I put it on the [chalk] board at the end of the game, and then I told them, ?That is MSU?s brand. That is the winner?s brand, no matter where you are.? And to win over 16 games in the conference, to win over a season, to win to get to a Final Four and advance in the NCAA Tournament, you?ve got to have it. Right now, we?re searching for it.?
No strategic techs
With 6:54 to play on Saturday, Michigan State Coach Tom Izzo received a technical foul after a couple of incidents with the officials.
UALR led 20-16 at the time, but Izzo said it wasn?t strategic.
?If it was strategic, I would have ran out there and did a cartwheel,? Izzo said. ?Displacement is something every year in the NCAA rulebook that you can?t extend your arms, and I was complaining about that. But at the same time, I kind of liked it. My guys right now are too wimpy to do it. I just don?t like it when it?s affecting us.?
Fight fans
After a side trip to the ESPN Zone in Chicago, UALR players, coaches and staff watched the Jermain Taylor-Bernard Hopkins fight at a Champaign, Ill., restaurant.
The players munched on appetizers as some cheered on Taylor, while others rooted for Hopkins as they watched the three big-screen televisions in front of them.
The biggest Taylor supporter in the house was no doubt UALR playby-play broadcaster Ray Tucker, who gave high-fives after the unanimous decision for Taylor was announced.
Illinois takes off
While UALR players went through a full workout at Champaign, Ill., on Sunday, Illinois players took the day off.
After beating Xavier 65-62 at Chicago?s United Center on Saturday afternoon, Illinois Coach Bruce Weber chose Sunday as his team?s mandatory day off. Illinois plays again on Thursday at Georgetown, while UALR, which will be off Tuesday, doesn?t play until Saturday against Bowling Green.
Assembly Hall wasn?t available because of a Journey concert, leaving UALR to work out at Illinois? practice facility.
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. ? After Saturday?s 72-67 loss to No. 13 Michigan State at Grand Rapids, Mich., Spartans Coach Tom Izzo took UALR Coach Steve Shields aside and praised the effort of the Trojans.
He also stepped onto the UALR team bus and spoke to both Shields and the players.
When asked about the Trojans in the postgame media conference, he gave rave reviews.
?I told Steve after the game that I thought his team played with a tenacity that we?re really just missing,? Izzo said in his postgame news conference. ?It wasn?t that we played poorly, more that I thought they played pretty well.?
Shields was appreciative of Izzo?s words, calling him, ?classy.?
?P.P.T.P.W.?
When Michigan State won the 2000 NCAA national championship, Coach Tom Izzo had the letters ?P.P.T.P.W.? inscribed on the bronze plaque commemorating the team in a corner of the court at the Breslin Center in Lansing Mich.
It stands for ?Players play, tough players win.?
Izzo said UALR was the tougher team in the Spartans? 72-67 victory over the Trojans Saturday at the Van Andel Center in Grand Rapids, Mich.
After the game, Izzo let his players know it: ?It?s simple. I put it on the [chalk] board at the end of the game, and then I told them, ?That is MSU?s brand. That is the winner?s brand, no matter where you are.? And to win over 16 games in the conference, to win over a season, to win to get to a Final Four and advance in the NCAA Tournament, you?ve got to have it. Right now, we?re searching for it.?
No strategic techs
With 6:54 to play on Saturday, Michigan State Coach Tom Izzo received a technical foul after a couple of incidents with the officials.
UALR led 20-16 at the time, but Izzo said it wasn?t strategic.
?If it was strategic, I would have ran out there and did a cartwheel,? Izzo said. ?Displacement is something every year in the NCAA rulebook that you can?t extend your arms, and I was complaining about that. But at the same time, I kind of liked it. My guys right now are too wimpy to do it. I just don?t like it when it?s affecting us.?
Fight fans
After a side trip to the ESPN Zone in Chicago, UALR players, coaches and staff watched the Jermain Taylor-Bernard Hopkins fight at a Champaign, Ill., restaurant.
The players munched on appetizers as some cheered on Taylor, while others rooted for Hopkins as they watched the three big-screen televisions in front of them.
The biggest Taylor supporter in the house was no doubt UALR playby-play broadcaster Ray Tucker, who gave high-fives after the unanimous decision for Taylor was announced.
Illinois takes off
While UALR players went through a full workout at Champaign, Ill., on Sunday, Illinois players took the day off.
After beating Xavier 65-62 at Chicago?s United Center on Saturday afternoon, Illinois Coach Bruce Weber chose Sunday as his team?s mandatory day off. Illinois plays again on Thursday at Georgetown, while UALR, which will be off Tuesday, doesn?t play until Saturday against Bowling Green.
Assembly Hall wasn?t available because of a Journey concert, leaving UALR to work out at Illinois? practice facility.
