I was really disappointed in that whole area, because this is Rebounding U, right?” Izzo said Sunday. “I mean, Linebacker U at Penn State, this is Rebounding U, and we didn't do a very good job.” All season,

Illinois, which Izzo called the best team in the Big Ten, had the talent around Jakucionis to keep the outcome at the Breslin Center in doubt until the final second. Rutgers (10-9, 3-5) missed the NCAA Tournament each of the last two years but opened the season ranked in the top 25 behind a pair of five-star additions.

An incensed Tom Izzo called Michigan State basketball's second-half defensive issues "a problem" after surviving Penn State for a 10th straight win.

Tom Izzo said No. 12 Michigan State basketball must defend better Sunday against No. 20 Illinois on Sunday despite the Spartans' offensive upturn.

To be fair to Michigan State coach Tom Izzo, there aren't as many Alan Andersons and Shannon Browns across college basketball as there once were. So when Izzo butchered the names of Kasparas Jakucionis,

Izzo is taking the threat of the Illini seriously as he prepares his Spartans for Sunday's matchup in East Lansing

EAST LANSING – Michigan State was just minutes ... the No. 12 Spartans were ripped Wednesday night by coach Tom Izzo. “I think they probably thought I was crazy, to be very honest with you ...

You won’t find another arena that’s been as unkind to MSU's men's basketball team as Madison Square Garden. Not over the last 15 years. Not all-time.

Whatever you call it, Madison Square Garden hasn’t been very kind to Tom Izzo. The Michigan State coach has won better than 70 percent of his games in 30 seasons but is just 4-13 on the floor above Penn Station in the heart of New York amid a lot of marquee matchups.

Tom Izzo could only smile and chuckle, shaking his head admiringly, after watching his Michigan State Spartans lay it all on the floor vs Illinois.

Stopping freshman phenom Kasparas Jakučionis is the biggest mission for No. 12 Michigan State basketball against No. 20 Illinois on Sunday.