{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"MSU Today with Russ White","title":"Tom Izzo previews the 2023/24 Spartans Men’s Basketball team and season","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":3335,"description":"Hall of Fame Michigan State University Spartans Men’s Basketball Coach Tom Izzo previews the 2023/24 season. In his opening comments, Izzo says he’s “excited to be back,” and he says he loves his team. He says he’s proud of his blue-collar program, too. Conversation Highlights: (3:37) – “We’re a week away from Midnight Madness. It’s important that we reengage after a lot of what we’ve been through the last couple years.” (4:55) – “We also have two exhibition games.   (6:26) – “I have seen our team in the Top 5 and Top 10. People have asked me if I like that. And I always say no; I love it. We’re looking forward to living up to expectations.” (7:48) – Izzo on his seniors (9:07) – Izzo on his juniors (10:05) – Izzo on his sophomores (11:18) – Izzo on his freshmen (14:18) – More on Coen Carr and the pros and cons of summer basketball. “It gives our players a chance to learn how to act in front of people. They’re really good kids. I’m blessed with what I have right now.” (16:24) – On the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan, the importance of high school coaches, and the state of college basketball. “It’s the Jud Heathcote rule, 27 years later, that the most important human beings on the planet are high school coaches. I really do believe that.” (18:48) – More on Jeremy Fears and Tom’s thoughts on competition making the team better. “Mateen was my best freshman leader. There have only been a couple guys – Mateen and Tum Tum – who have ‘it.’ Jeremy Fears has ‘it.’” (21:14) – As he looks around college basketball, his thoughts on reduced opportunities for freshmen because of the portal. “I’m going to do what I do. And sooner or later it’s probably going to get me. I’m going to have fun in the meantime, and I’m going to enjoy the fight to keep my program based on relationships and not transactions. At Michigan State, there are a couple things that aren’t going to change until the day I walk off this stage. We’re going to stay a blue-collar place. The second thing...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/avlYo1jXv0acLZxbQFrkYqjxF0RRjWECeJppWZUMiM0/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9zaG93/LzY5MzQvMTU3ODY4/NTYzMy1hcnR3b3Jr/LmpwZw.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}