Michigan State - Jacksonville State Post-Game Quotes
12/28/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 28, 2002
Michigan State Head Coach Tom Izzo:
"It was a game of spurts again. I thought we got off to a very good start. We actually played some really good defense almost all of the first half. We did go into a drought where we couldn't score. I think the turnovers came back to haunt us a little again. It made it so we looked a little bit sloppy. But, defensively, we did some pretty good things. We also rebounded pretty well. I thought that we rebounded better and went after the ball. We got to the free throw line, which I think is critical. They (Jacksonville State) were a tough team to play from the standpoint that they run the weave and take some time off of the clock.
"We did get a little impatient at times. We were stuck on 25 for quite awhile and made some foolish plays. But for the first game back after a break, it's always a scary game. You've seen all of the upsets around the country today, so I guess that I am happy to come away with a win."
Jacksonville State Head Coach Mike LaPlante:
"From our end going in we knew it was going to be a difficult match as far as big man size advantage. We were mismatched at every position; we told our guys that their point guard was as big as our power forward. For about every team we play we know we are probably going to be a smaller team but Michigan State did a great job from the opening tip of dictating the tempo and dominating the offensive glass. They hurt us in transition defense. We scored some easy baskets getting out and pushing the ball ahead early but then we got behind and had to play from behind right from the start of the game. Anytime you get behind early against a team like Michigan State you are going to be in trouble.
"I thought in the second half we came out scrapping. We were down 14 to start the half and we kind of started to claw our way back in the game. Somewhere early in the second half we knocked it down to ten, stole the ball and then just couldn't finish in transition. If we could have knocked it to single digits I thought we might be able to make it a little more interesting but after that they went on an 18 to 2 run."