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After a 76-65 first-round win for the Michigan State Spartans over the branded Bradley Braves, head coach Tom Izzo was in the headlines after the first day of March Madness after screaming and pointing at freshman Aaron Henry after a blown play. Izzo's old school, no-nonsense approach raised questions, but his former player Draymond Green, now a starter for the Golden State Warriors, claimed this was much ado about nothing.
Green jumped in defense of his former coach and longtime friend, claiming he's been in Henry's position before and he's now all the better for it.
Just an FYI. Being in those huddles for years. Cassius and Matt grabbed Iz so he could shut up and move on… after a while you’re just ready for him to draw up the play. Just giving perspective from someone who’s been apart of those huddles.
— Draymond Green (@Money23Green) March 22, 2019
And the reason he wouldn’t stop is because Aaron Henry kept talking. However, what the world doesn’t know is that Iz loves the kid who will challenge him back more than anything! So there’s some insight For you all!!
— Draymond Green (@Money23Green) March 22, 2019
Izzo drew plenty of criticism after being unapologetic during his post-game comments, claiming “I'm a tell-it-like-it-is guy,” excusing his behavior and pointing to the nature of this competition.
“There are some things Aaron didn't do a very good job of and yet, you know what? I did get after him and he did respond and he did make a couple of big buckets and he did make a couple of big free throws, but that's not good enough,” said Izzo after the game, according to Dan Wetzel of Yahoo Sports. “This is one-and-done time. The ‘my-bads' are out the window. If it's my fault because that guy played better and it's my bad because I walked back and didn't sprint back, then it is your bad and you're going to hear about it.”
This is hardly news with Izzo, who has been known to be a fiery personality, as well as an adored head coach. Yet that didn't keep him from being subject to harsh criticism.
"That freshman's not getting paid, Tom Izzo. I want to ask you: Did you have any bads in that game? Every set you called, every rotation that you asked your team to get in, was the right one? … He out there with the Arthur hand." — @ShannonSharpe pic.twitter.com/QKMJIVipkr
— UNDISPUTED (@undisputed) March 22, 2019
Green is one of the people who respond well to being challenged like Henry was on Thursday, but certainly not everyone responds to that same behavior. All in all, the Spartans will live to fight another day after escaping a first-round scare.
