The No. 8 Wisconsin Badgers ended their long-standing losing streak in East Lansing yesterday by defeating No. 12 Michigan State 85-76.
The win was an impressive one for many reasons and sent Greg Gard’s team into the top spot in the Big Ten standings.
Related: PHOTOS: D’Mitrik Trice leads Wisconsin past Michigan State
Site editor Asher Low went through the contest yesterday and put together five stats that defined the Badgers’ victory. Two main takeaways: it was a complete team effort on all accounts and D’Mitrik Trice is playing some unbelievably-impressive basketball.
After the game, Michigan State HC Tim Izzo spoke to reporters and had nothing but glowing remarks for the Wisconsin basketball program and the job they did on the court yesterday.
He opened the presser with his immediate takeaways from the contest.
“Well there’s part of that was pleased and part of me that was very disappointed,” Izzo said. “I walked by Greg Gard at halftime and I said ‘you know Jud [Heathcote], Bo [Ryan] and Dick Bennett wouldn’t be very proud of us.’ I mean 45-45 at halftime when I think we held Wisconsin to 45-50 points four times the year we won it. So neither team was guarding very good, or both teams were executing very well.”
He continued to talk about Trice and the part he played in the outcome of the game.
“Disappointed you get a nine-point lead and then you just don’t step on their throat,” Izzo said. “And I think the reason for that was the best player on the court, kind of by far, and that was [D’Mitrik] Trice.
He then mentioned sarcastically how Trice plays for Wisconsin after his brother played for the Spartans, saying “that shows you how bad of a recruiter I am. Not only did his brother play here, but his mother and father are really good friends of mine.”
Izzo continued to talk about the path the senior guard took and why he was “the difference” yesterday.
“I’m not sure he was a recruit at this level at the time. And to his credit, and this is what we all should learn, he went to a prep school for his fifth year, then he transferred, then they redshirted him. He is just a product of the process,” Izzo said. “Now I get to cheer for him for 18 games, glad I don’t have to play him again. But he was the difference. Not just because of the points he scored, but the way he did it, the way he calmed his team down. And he was very efficient, he was pretty good defensively.”
Later in the press conference, reporters asked the Michigan State coach whether he believes Wisconsin’s starting lineup of seniors and old core of players is good for the sport.
“I think six of their first seven are seniors and redshirts, I think they have seven or eight on their team. Yes, it’s good. It’s good for basketball,” Izzo said. “I’m a Greg Gard fan. Last year, remember, they wanted to fire him halfway through the season and all that. I just absolutely love guys that persevere and put their head to the grindstone and get it done.”
Although he wasn’t directly mentioned in the question, Izzo still circled back to D’Mitrik Trice and what he means to the basketball team.
“I’m not sure it’d be the same without the maestro. Trice has a calming effect on that team. He just knew who to get the ball, knew where to get them the ball and he might have the most experience of all of them. Because of that I give him credit. Not worried about leaving, not worried about doing this, not worried about doing that. Worried about being the best player you can be and see where that takes you.”
His final note carries arguably the most weight and didn’t even come from a direct question being asked.
“I know one thing. I have a lot of NBA buddies and if anybody calls me and talks to me about him, there’s going to be rave reviews,” Izzo said. “Because I’ve known him since he was little, but the way he’s grown each and every year over the last three years is a tribute to him, their staff, his family. And yea, that’s a special team.”
Wisconsin will be back in action on Monday, December 28 when they host the Maryland Terrapins at 6 p.m. CST.