Michigan State vs. Nicholls State-Post Game Quotes

Dec. 9, 2001

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State Head Coach Tom Izzo:

"Well, I think that was a good win for our team - to get to play a little loose and have some fun. I feel bad for Rick (Broussard) because I don't think he had his whole team here. I guess he had some guys missing with some academic problems. That team maybe was not the team that was scheduled, with three guys missing, and yet I thought we did some good things early. We got our running game going a little bit and we shot the ball a little bit better. That's what I was looking for. I also thought we rebounded pretty well although it was against a smaller team. I was pleased with most of the defensive performance. I was pleased that we were very, very unselfish in the first half. I thought guys moved the ball around quite well and everybody shot the ball pretty well, except KT (Kelvin Torbert), who had some good shots but just missed them, but I've been pleased by the fact that he has been shooting better in practice too.

"All and all, I thought it was a game that in a way I thought we needed. I thought we needed to get out and run. I thought we needed to do some things offensively. I think this game will help us as we head into an off week. Hopefully, we can build on this and get ready for a pretty exciting time around here. (Against Arizona) We'll have a chance to go for our 50th win (straight home win), which I believe would tie a Big Ten record."

Nicholls State Head Coach Ricky Broussard:

"Give credit to Tom (Izzo), his staff and players as well. Regardless of the opponent, you play hard and you do the right things. They didn't take us lightly in the least. They've got Arizona coming up and they just got off that Florida game and we were stuck in the middle. As far as the game you want to play, we were in the right position."

"They have good coaches and with the kind of program they've established here, they don't take anybody for granted. They respected a great deal."

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