"I did not do a very good job": Tom Izzo warns against overconfidence after Spartans 10th straight win vs. Penn State

Tom Izzo was left unimpressed after Michigan State's win over Penn State Spartans on Wednesday. The 30-year MSU coach expressed disappointment with his team’s overall performance, particularly their defensive effort.

Penn State managed to shoot an impressive 53 percent from the field and outscored Michigan State 49-44 in the second half, which highlighted some defensive lapses. Reflecting on the game, Izzo didn’t shy away from holding himself accountable.

“We talked about it. We talked about it as a staff. We talked about it with our players. We talked about talking to the officials. We talked about the way things are. And I didn’t get much carryover tonight. So that means I did not do a very good job of getting through to my guys. So I can promise you, tonight, I’m going to figure out a way to get through to them.”

Izzo’s comments reflect his commitment to driving Michigan State toward greater consistency and focus, even amid their current 10-game winning streak and a top-15 national ranking.

Concerned that his players might be growing overconfident, he emphasized the need for continued improvement to reach their ultimate goals.

"We cannot handle success right now, so quit saying where we are, because we’re not anywhere yet," Izzo said. "We’re a good basketball team that’s got a long, long, long, long ways to go to get better, OK? Period. That’s where we are."

Tom Izzo and the Spartans get 10th win in a row versus Penn State

While Michigan State displayed some positive aspects during their 90-85 victory over Penn State—outrebounding their opponent, grabbing 15 offensive boards, committing only 10 turnovers, dishing out 24 assists, and scoring 48 points in the paint—Tom Izzo remained unsatisfied.

His main concern centered on the team’s defensive struggles, an area he believes needs significant improvement.

"I thought we were very pedestrian-like. We took bad shots. The wrong guys have taken some shots. I’ve gotta get other guys some shots," he said. "Not many times this year have I been disappointed in our defensive performance. Tonight I’m very disappointed."

Tom Izzo and the Spartans, now the only undefeated team in Big Ten play at 15-2 (6-0), have a challenging matchup ahead on Sunday against Illinois, another top-20 team. With rivals Purdue and Michigan each sitting at one conference loss, Michigan State remains in a strong position.

If they can address their defensive issues, Tom Izzo’s team could secure another Big Ten title and potentially make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.