EAST LANSING, Mich. – Tom Izzo saw the same shooting numbers everyone else did. Toledo went 8-for-32 in the first half, made five 3-pointers all night, and shot 33.3 percent in a 91–61 loss to No. 6 Michigan State. What stuck with him Thursday night was how often the Rockets got past the first defender before they missed.
“Too many dribble drives, too many guys going around guys,” Izzo said. “They missed shots, but the actions, we didn’t defend very well.”
Toledo coach Tod Kowalczyk saw some of that from the other bench.
He thought the Rockets got good looks in the opening five to 10 minutes and missed them. As the half went on, he said, they moved less, dribbled more, and got away from their offense. Izzo credited Toledo for screening hard and playing physically, and he wanted Michigan State to match that physicality more consistently.
Last season, Izzo could count on Carson Cooper to help his guards on ball screens. He thinks Jeremy Fears, Jasiah Jervis, Jordan Scott, and Carlos Medlock can contain the ball with less help. Thursday gave him examples of where that still has to improve, including a couple of drives Scott gave up along the baseline. Izzo also wants the defenders away from the ball to get into the gaps sooner when a teammate gets beat.
