From the Locker Room
12/2/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 2, 2000
EAST LANSING, Mich. - MICHIGAN STATE VS. ILLINOIS-CHICAGO
December 2, 2000
Breslin Center
Coaches Quotes
Michigan State Head Coach Tom Izzo: "Well, it was a strange game. I think we played really well the first half, I thought they played well, they hit some shots early. We missed some good shots and had that run right at the end of the half, which I think made a difference. They might have been worn down a bit without their big guy, with him they are a different team, he has been playing well lately and to not have him back in the game hurt them."
"I thought we got a lot of ball out of a lot of guys but yet we had pluses and minuses. We turned the ball over a bit too much and I thought we missed some real good shots in the first half. Second half, we did a better job, Andre (Hutson) did a better job on the boards and we got the ball inside a little more. When you have 26 assists that is always a good sign, as well as having 20 offensive rebounds."
Illinois-Chicago Head Coach Jimmy Collins: " It was obvious it was a learning experience for my young guys as well as my old ones. It was pretty obvious that we were outmatched. I have gotten to know it as the forty-four trip, as the last time we were here, we lost by forty-four, and I believe it was another forty-four tonight. We just don't have the athleticism, the talent, or the prowess of a Michigan State. And it looks to me like they are still a championship team."
"Of course our kids were intimidated but that's no reason why we couldn't have played with them. I would have liked to think that we could have played to within 30 points (laughing)."
On preparation for the game between two big match-ups - "Well I am impressed with them period. That was never a concern or thought of mine because I knew Tom was going to get them ready. When you win a national title, you know how to get prepared. I mean you don't luck up and win a national title, they have beaten a lot of teams like us, so they know how to get ready."