Jan. 21 (UPI) — Coach Tom Izzo made a very specific comparison during a timeout at Michigan State, telling one of his players that he couldn’t guard his mentor’s 99-year-old mother, Dorothy.
Izzo delivered the jab during a first-half timeout as the Spartans defeated the Oregon Ducks 68-52 on Tuesday in Eugene, Ore. He directed the slight at sophomore guard Kuul Teng.
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“Kool, you can’t protect my mother,” Izzo said on footage filmed by Fox Sports.
Izzo also tried to strengthen the Spartans’ offense during the timeout. The Michigan State Spartans defeated Oregon State 57.1% to 39.2% to win their fifth straight game. The game took the lead seven times and was tied three times.
The Spartans led 30-20 in scoring in the paint, 10-2 in fast break scoring and 8-7 in second chance scoring.
Teng did not attempt a shot but committed two fouls and a turnover in eight minutes of play. The 6-foot-5 sophomore played about four minutes per half.
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Senior center Cooper Carson scored a game-high 19 points. Junior forward Keon Carr and redshirt sophomore guard Jeremy Fiers Jr. scored 15 and 14 points respectively.
Ducks senior guard Takai Simpkins finished with 15 points and seven rebounds.
Izzo, who is entering his 31st season at Michigan State, told reporters during the postgame press conference that he was unhappy with the Spartans’ leadership during the game. He criticized their passing and turnovers but said they defended well overall.
He was also asked if his mother had basketball skills.
“No, that’s the sad part, she has no game and he [Teng] Still can’t protect her,” Izzo said.
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Izzo also claimed he was “serious as a jay” when asked if he was joking. He said he hoped the jab angered Teng and forced him to fight better.
“We’re all going to fly back to East Lansing, Michigan,” Izzo said. “He’s going to fly to Appleton, Wisconsin. Check USA Today tomorrow. He and my mom will be training in the nursing home gym and we’ll see how it goes [Teng] Do. “
With Tuesday’s win, Izzo pushed his career win total to 754, which ranks 22nd in Division I history. He trails former Western Kentucky coach EA Diddle by five wins.
He is just three wins away from the Spartans’ 25th 20-win season.
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Izzo’s No. 10 Spartans (17-2, 7-1 Big Ten) will face the Maryland Terrapins (8-10, 1-6 Big Ten) at noon ET on Saturday in East Lansing, Mich. The Ducks (8-11, 1-7 Big Ten) will face the Washington Huskies (10-8, 2-5 Big Ten) in Seattle on Sunday at 3 p.m.