Post-Game Quotes: Indiana State
12/30/2023 5:55:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Head Coach Tom Izzo
Opening StatementÂ
Well, I probably get accused of building up teams and not building up teams but, as I told their coach after the game, that was as well coached and as good of a team as we've played, and we've played a lot of good teams. They hit some good shots that were tough. A couple times we broke down, but I thought we were pretty good defensively. They just made plays, made shots. I thank the crowd, thank you. I thank what you guys did, whatever you did, but to have no students and have that place rocking like that was unbelievable. I thought that was one of the better crowds, just the whole system, very classy the way we did it with the music and everything and band. Hats-off to you guys, you did a hell of a job and I appreciate that.
There were a lot of big plays in the game. Malik (Hall) made some big plays, and I thought the two biggest might've been when they went zone and we went right to them in the middle, and he hit that short jumper then dunked one. That was big. A.J. (Hoggard) was a rock, he had a couple goofy turnovers there, but he's allowed that with the minutes he played and everything. Tyson (Walker) was hurt over half the game, he got knocked in the rib pretty good. I don't know how that will be, it doesn't seem to be broken but it was when he took the fall over by me. If I wasn't so mad at my team, I would've caught him, so I guess I'll blame myself about that. A couple things that excited coach; I was not happy with Tre Holloman in the first half at all, I challenged him at halftime, and that kid met the challenge. I thought Jaden Akins met the challenge. Mady (Sissoko), in and out a little bit, some big plays, big rebounds. Ty and A.J., we just expect that out of them but Jaden, man, when he started covering 2 (Isaiah Swope), that made a big difference. I give him a lot of credit. There's enough credit to go around for everybody and yet at the same time, we tried to get Book (Xavier Booker) into the game it just wasn't a game for him, and Coen (Carr) looked good in the first couple minutes but at the start of the second half, everybody learns why freshmen are freshmen.
What I really liked in the huddles is that they took some responsibility for things that weren't right, and that game changed, like that [snaps fingers]. We were 11 or 12 up and then [snaps fingers], it went down to they were two or three up. It changed like that and that's the really scary part about it, that's why your defense has to be good, and I would say that when you look at the stats, ours wasn't. We gave up 43 and 40 [FG% and 3PT%]. But if you look at the rebounding, 15 offensive boards might've won us the game, 23-27 from the free throw line might've won us the game, good defense down the stretch might've won us the game. 12 turnovers but, a couple of those late so we did a decent job on that. Those of you that are from Indiana State, my assistant Doug Wojcik had the scout. Before Christmas, they start looking ahead a game and so as we were preparing for our last game before Christmas, he was preparing, and he kept telling me how good they were. I asked him if he was trying to ruin my Christmas, and then I started getting calls from people that I respect. Bruce Weber, good friend of mine, who had seen them. Everybody that had seen this team, this team is the real deal. They can beat you in a lot of ways and they did a decent job on Avila, he didn't play as good and he's a good player. But that Swope, Conwell, Bledson; those guys are really good and experienced, and Josh is a hell of a coach. Not very often do I beat a team that is not a Power Five team and not only feel good, but think that that win really helps us. Let me tell you, this will be a big-time win for us because we played a good team, and we played good most of the game to feel good and made a couple of mistakes start of the second half and one stretch late to feel bad and get some coaching points in.
On the team's response to Indiana State taking the lead early in the second half…Â
It's kind of funny, that's one thing that my coaches said last couple minutes of the game. We did respond. We responded, we came back, went down again, came back. I'll tell you; I thought our defense was pretty good on some of those shots too. That team was not easy to cover. We've never seen them, and that's the problem when you never see a team. My staff did a hell of a job, and they deserve a lot of credit too and the team does because there were different coverages, we had to change some coverages. That is not your normal team. You've got what's his name from Denver, must be his son that came in or something, that kid [Avila] is just like the center from Denver (Jokic), he's really, really good and we actually did a decent job. So, I was pleased that we bounced back, I really was.
On the grit from of the guards that allowed the team to retake the lead…Â
Well, we go through a lot in a season. We went through the times when A.J…. he's been so good the last seven or eight games, I'm really proud of him. Tyson has played a little bit banged-up, he gets banged-up because he's a little guy that takes it in there and Jaden Akins has been one of my most improved players since the Wisconsin game. He's shooting the ball better, but he proved that he could be a two-way player which is why I thought, could he be a Gary Harris? Could he be a guy like that? I think he's proving that he can be. And then those four offensive rebounds, that tip late that we got the ball and then I think we hit a three but for sure, we scored. Those are winning plays. That's what I try to tell my guys: winners make winning plays. And sometimes, a winning play is a tip. It's not a basket all the time. It's not a pass all the time. It's a scrum and somebody tips the ball and somebody else gets it. So I thought we made some winning plays and I'm really proud of him, I'm proud of us without Jeremy (Fears), who can really guard, it hurt us a little bit. We had to put Coen, he's played the four and now he's back to the three, it doesn't mean a lot to you guys, but he's got to guard people on the perimeter, and it was tough. He learned a little bit tonight too.
On if he ever felt comfortable with the lead …
No, not once. Not even a little bit. At halftime I said for them, three shots and they're back in it. I didn't feel comfortable with 30 seconds left. I said, 'Should I call a timeout,' he said, 'I got three left, better save them.' One turnover and they might shoot a three. Never comfortable and I think they do that more to you than we do. We're pretty good defensively. They do that because they're well coached. Give that coach credit, I love him. He was a Division II guy like me. What I was surprised of was they were a little more physical than I thought, and they were a little better defensively than I could see on film. Even though Avila didn't have a good game, all of a sudden you bring a guy like Bledson in who can beat you in multiple ways. It never felt comfortable until I walked into the locker room.
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On if the win tonight will help prepare for the Big Ten schedule ahead …
 I think probably other than going out on the road tonight to recruit. I'll probably just sleep in and relax because now we've got to go into the Big Ten. We've had a hell of a schedule guys. When you start talking about the teams we played, and see what JMU has done, you'll see what these guys are going to do. Even Alabama, they played them without Avila. They're still going to win a lot of games, Oakland is going to win a lot of games. When I think of our schedule, I think it's been very good. For the most part, other than Wisconsin, we've played pretty good. Maybe Duke a little bit, I wasn't satisfied in those games. Look, Arizona and Butler, who I watched lose the other day, cannot believe they lost. I was mad at that. They were up late and still 10-3. Are we battle tested? I don't know. I know one thing, we played against a lot of different kinds of ball. Baylor gave us one kind of ball, Wisconsin gave us a different kind. I think we are at least prepared in that respect to almost guard many of different sets.
On Hoggard and Walker being banged up and a possible timetable for Fears Jr…
With Jeremy, there's no sense of even asking me a question until these six or eight weeks are up. You can ask him, and he'll give you the same answer. There's more that we know now that we have him here. I missed him so it has been good. I was missing him today. I loved him in those huddles a couple of times. I loved him at halftime. I'm going to miss that kid a lot, but it will be a while because he has to heal. First week we've just got to make sure he doesn't get any infection in there. That's not for a while yet. On Tyson, I told him he's got to get tougher. Small guys are supposed to be tougher. He takes a beating in there, he really does. I'm proud of the way he plays, especially going 10-10 from the line. If he makes one more of those in the opening game, we win. Last night, the night before every game, we shoot free throws. We've been at 88-90 percent. Last night we were at 91. I told the team these are things we have to do, free throws matter. Sure enough today, they mattered. AJ, he's from Philly, he's not hurt.
On the 44th anniversary of the 1979 National Championship game between the two teams … Â
You mean Magic and Larry are that old? God, I was about the same age then. I will say this, I think both of those guys should be proud of what both schools have done. I think Earvin is proud. He was here two weeks ago, which means a lot to me. I think Larry should be proud of where Indiana State is going because this is a good basketball team. I don't want to jinx them or put on any pressure on them, but we've played a lot of good teams, and they are as good as any of them. If he can keep it together, the only hard part is when you live by the three, you die by it sometimes. We did a decent job taking away those back door cuts they do, but we didn't cover some of those threes like we had to. I know one thing; I would rather have been where both of them were than where I was today. I kept looking around and saying that this is a hard way to make a living. It just seemed like every time I turned around a three was going in. That was my first Final Four out of college. A college coach took me to Utah and saw that. I hope Earvin and Larry are proud of both schools. They did it the hard way and played well.
On how important free throw shooting will be going forward…
It was important today because during a stretch we made ours and they missed a couple. They are a very good free throw shooting team. I think early on, we were shooting 62 percent for a while, and we were shooting 65. I think we are still only at 66, but this will help us. This is a good free throw shooting team, and the funny part is Mady was our worst free throw shooter two years ago, and I think right now he's our best. He missed one late, but I think now he's been really good. It was nice that Malik made his and Mady made most of his. Actually, Cooper missed one, but A.J. was the worst free throw shooter that I had as a point guard and look what he's done in the last year and a half. Give credit to those guys that practice. You practice, things get better.
Closing remarks…
I guess I won't see you all until the new year. I can actually say I hope you have a good new year. I'm hoping 2024 is even better, and I hope all your families have a great new year. Behave yourself, don't act like media guys. Take care of yourself.
Senior Guard A.J. Hoggard
On Indiana State's Defense Prowess…
They defended and guarded things well and they were definitely physical. You would have thought this was a Big Ten game if you were out there playing. It was the way they were physical and blowing things up. Their guards are aggressive defensive-wise and they came out and showed that.
On defensive play of team…
I think Mady was one of our keys because of his communication. When one of their five men got the ball just knowing they were starting to back cut in that five out and he did a good job of that. I think we did a good job of executing the game plan. Coaches did a good job of preparing us for the back cuts in their offense. They have a very unique offense, as I pointed out before, and we just went out there and executed the game plan and it helped us.
Graduate Forward Malik Hall
On effort plays and their impact in the game…
They are something that coach has been talking about since the beginning of the year. Coach Monty [Mark Montgomery] has been talking about thinking low, tip outs, deflections, defensive rebounds and offensive rebounds. When you aren't playing good, offensive rebounds are what give you more chances to knock down shots. The first play, we got an offensive rebound and missed it, but A.J. steps in and hits a shot and instead of walking away with nothing we walk away with three points. Things like that are things people do not pay attention to but they are important to the game of basketball. Coaches did a really nice job teaching us those small things matter.
On being able to respond to Indiana State's runs and lead changes…
I think it is that we have been there before. We have been there a couple times over the last couple years and for some of the upperclassmen we have seen the games turn. Basketball is a game of runs, people are going to go on runs and people are going to score and sometimes you just need to be able to handle it and take the adversity and turn it in your favor.
Graduate Guard Tyson Walker
On body fatigue and health…
I am fine, it is just something I have to deal with every game.
On importance of playing against tough physical teams and in close games heading into Big Ten play…
It was definitely physical and every game is going to be physical for me especially the way people are guarding me now. It is about just getting used to it and not complaining about it either. I got fouled today, so I just need to keep trying to do that.
On significant changes of how teams have guarded Tyson Walker in the past…
Teams are just trying to be more physical and deny me. It is expected and we prepare for it and we have things planned for when they do it.
On getting to the free throw line…
I hadn't really gotten fouled in the first game so I am just trying to get fouled more. I made them today, so I just have to keep being aggressive and there will be opportunities to get fouled because of the way they are guarding me so I have to keep attacking.
On value of playing tougher non-conference opponents…
It is definitely good. We definitely prepared well, if we only had one day to prepare it would definitely be a hard team to cover. But, we had a couple days and that definitely helped. We changed things day-by-day on how we were going to guard them and they are a really good team.
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Indiana State Head Coach Josh Schertz
Opening statement...
Discouraged. Disappointed. We came here to try to win the game, though we had a chance, got up five there with 10:30 to play and too many mistakes on both ends against an excellent team. Michigan State is one of the best teams in the country and you can't have as many errors as we did on both ends of the floor, from down the stretch missed free throws, a couple missed layups, too many fouls, some blown ball screen coverages, tried to go zone, messed that up twice, so too many mistakes last 10:30 minutes against an excellent team with a hall of fame coach that lines a high line and we put ourselves in position but didn't get it done. It's disappointing but I'm proud of our guys, love the way we compete, loved our fight, but certainly there are some lessons we will take with us and hopefully we get an opportunity like this again in a couple months and we'll be better for this experience.
ÂOn the team's 3-point percentage dropping off during the game...Â
IÂ think it's part of shooting. We had made some, we had a couple rim-outs, I thought we had some good looks, Ryan had one three quarters of the way down. I thought we generated some quality looks. I thought we got a little bit frantic. I thought we took a couple of ones that were rushed. When they made the run, the place got loud, I think it was 72-69, 73-70, I thought we got a little bit frantic I thought we rushed and took some ones that maybe weren't quite in our wheelhouse. That was part of it. But we aren't getting enough stops, it was really putting pressure on our offense and so if you look at it, we missed two front ends of a one-and-one, Robbie goes to the line and misses two, we missed some free throws, we missed three layups there in the last five minutes that were pretty good looks. We weren't able to hold the fort defensively and so I thought we kind of rushed and put pressure on ourselves offensively there in that final stretch.
On the run in the second half to take the lead...
We were not happy with our first half. I thought Michigan State, alot of that is credit to them but we talked about, you have to be a lead at the book's end, you have to be great at the beginning at the possession and the end of the possession. They beat us up on the glass and we turned it over a lot, 11 times in the first half. Alot of times their best offense was our offense because we were throwing it to them. They got 21 points off turnovers 20 points off second chances. We shot ourselves in the foot a lot, credit to them because that's what they do. I thought we kind sealed ourselves at halftime. We were like, we haven't played well, we are only down ten, we want to come out second half and play with much better force and physicality. I thought we took better care of the ball. In that second half we were much more competitive on the glass and did a much better job taking care of the ball which allowed us to work our way back in.
On Isaiah Swope's performance...
He's special. He's 5'10" but he's the kind of player who can capture the moment. Some guys have moments too big for them on this kind of stage. He's one of those guys that the moment is not too big. I think he really looks forward to it, he thrives in this type of deal. He was terrific against Alabama, he was terrific tonight. His shot making, I thought he made some great plays. He got a couple kick-outs for Julian that would generate some wide open 3s. He made some terrific decisions, we just didn't make the shots. I thought he was fantastic. I thought he was as good as anybody on the floor and they got some really high-level guys, so I think he's as good a player as they have in the valley and our league and we are lucky to have him on our squad.
