Tom Izzo Quotations | Page 2
Tom Izzo Quotes about:
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Bottom Quotes
I said that there could be eight teams vie for the championship. I think scheduling (the Big Ten doesn't play a round robin, so some teams play others just once) is gonna play a part in everything. I still think our conference could fight to be the strongest in the country. When you look top to bottom at the conference race this year, four losses could win it, maybe more.
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Biggest Quotes
Our biggest problem was there was no spacing between those tough games. We kept losing and having to play another great team right away. I still think good schedules make you better in the long run. I don't mind losing because that's how you figure out what's wrong, but you have to do it within reason.
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Along Quotes
I was hoping to have him back Saturday, and it didn't work out. It's kind of out of my hands and kind of out of his hands, to be honest with you. That puts pressure on the doctors. For the most part, they've been consistent saying that maybe he could do something Big Ten tournament-time. We were hoping, because everything was moving along a little faster, that it would be faster than that.
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Credit Quotes
I think I got kind of a worn-out team right now. I can come up with a lot of different reasons, excuses, but we were just flat-out beat. And I did not think we played with the energy we needed to play. We still hung in there, and then we had the knockout punch of that three-minute span, and Illinois deserves a lot of credit for that.
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Guarantee Quotes
I think for the most part, winning is always more of an advantage. If you play (in the NCAA Tournament) on Thursday or Friday, and you don't have to travel through too many time zones, I don't think there's any plus in us losing. I didn't feel any better about it (last year). I can guarantee you that.
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Agree Quotes
I think I've got kind of a worn-out team. We were just flat-out beat. I just don't think we had anything left in us. That Thursday-Saturday noon thing was a joke in my mind and I think most coaches would agree with me. I turned down going to the NBA. I didn't think I'd have back-to-backs (here).
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Earned Quotes
We played Gonzaga, we played Arizona, we played all these overtime games, and I told (my team during a late-game huddle ) I thought we've earned the right to win this game. I felt, looking at them in the eye, that they were looking back at me saying, 'Damn right we do, and we're going to get it done.' And that was encouraging.
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Christmas Quotes
We've gotten such a good system down, my managers can get a lot of stuff done. It was unbelievable around here (Sunday) night. If you open the door in that room it was Santa's elves working on Christmas Day. They were going at it. There were sparks coming out of that room. They all take some ownership.
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Believed Quotes
We have to learn how to play with the lead, and the Iowa game was a case in point where we didn't play with the lead. (The players) came into our huddle, we were up 15-4, and they really believed (Iowa) was tired. It was good: 'Let's get 'em now coach, let's do this, let's do that.' But I think they took that to another level and they started taking shots too early.
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Control Quotes
We have a long way to go but we are still in the race. I'm not giving up on the Big Ten, but we just aren't in control so we just have to let it play out and focus on getting better every day until the Big Ten tournament and the NCAA tournament. We have lots of big games we need to focus on, but it feels good to be home.
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Build Quotes
We're trying to check with all the pro teams and different places on what we can build him. If he's able to wear a football helmet or whatever we got to do, we'll do it. We are going to the Nth degree to find out anything we can find out that would give us a better chance to get him back quickly.
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Anybody Quotes
When you play that many (ranked teams) in a row, it becomes a mental strain as far as keeping your guys up. I think it helps that it's the Michigan game. I think our guys will be up for that. If there was going to be a time when they mentally let down a little bit, I don't see it being this week. Emotionally, it's Michigan-Michigan State and that carries more than anybody we play, let's be honest.
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Chance Quotes
The opportunity I've had here ... the chance to meet every one of you ... the chance to wear this uniform ... I thank you for letting us be (a) small part of it, ... We will never give you as much as you've given us, but we will promise you to spread the word and tell what you are all about when we get back home.