Izzo punishes his players

[Da Coach]

After Michigan State lost an exhibition game to D2 Grand Valley State, coach Tom Izzo locked his players out of their new cushy locker room.

"I just look at that as -- you earn the right to have something that nice, and we didn't earn the right," Izzo told reporters Monday night. "I just said that, make sure that everything, including the toothbrushes, are out of there."

Since their eviction from the locker room -- which would be the envy of many NBA teams, with its comfy couches, high-tech television and video-game system, and swank kitchen -- the Spartans have had to dress in the weight room, or in the hallways. Izzo said he'll decide when to let them back in, based on their practice or game performances.

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007711070395

[Double D]

Does anyone remember when Tom Richardson did this to the players at ISU? He was widely criticized. This was often referred to as one of the examples of his lack of coaching ability.

I don't know how this will turn out for Izzo. My guess is it will motivate his players and people will point to it as a sucessful coaching ploy. The bottom line is that there are very few differences in the methods of one coach to another, especially in today's coaching environment.
The only difference is who has the relationship with their players to pull it off.

[tornado]

I wonder if any of the Michigan State players whine to the press about not getting into their cushy lockerroom stocked with amenities and yummy goodies.

God forbid that maybe one of the Spartan players might lie about being hypoglycemic and blame a near-death experience on Tom Izzo.

[bert notorius]

The name Tom is just about the only thing the two have in common. Richardson used the ploy well into the season when nothing else was working.

[SaintLouBrave22]

Can I now refer to him as Tom the Tool?!


I bet he didn't impose the lock-out for himself and leave his office locked for a day...


His coaching wasn't exactly stellar the last few minutes of regulation or in the overtimes...


I mean we can't all take the Kelvin Sampson "blame everyone but myself" approach can we?

[bert notorius]

I don't really follow that. Izzo is about as blue collar as you get. He answers his own phone. His team's problem is obviously a matter of focus and desire, not coaching or talent.