Jud Heathcote: Izzo might be waiting on LeBron James | detnews.com | The Detroit News
Jud thinks (1) Izzo won't take the job without a commitment from LeBron and (2) the Cavaliers won't want to give Izzo that much time.
Given that he's actually spoken to Izzo, I'll bump the PANIC-meter level down half a point to 4.5. (Technical notes: (a) The term "YIKES-meter" no longer appropriately captures the situation. (b) I don't really know what 10 means on this scale. Despite my general panickyness, I still don't think the chances Izzo leaves are any higher than 20-25%. I guess a 10 would be something like "It's plausible that Tom Izzo could pick up the phone in the next hour and actually accept the job in principle." I'm sure you're all very appreciative of the precision I'm trying to achieve here.)
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Needing some love?
Izzo has always seemed sensitive to and hurt by critical comments from some of the fan base. While I don’t doubt his interest in this opening, could some of this drama be his way of getting some love and appreciation (and perhaps a few more bucks) for all he has brought to the university. It’s kind of like when the girlfriend says “I’m leaving,” and suddenly the boyfriend realizes how special she really is.
Izzo can have his Sally Field moment – “They love me, they really love me,” and remain where he belongs, on the bench at MSU.
True
And honestly, I really think he should feel unappreciated. I’m frequently surprised at the criticism he receives from fans. He’d be crazy not to consider this position and hopefully he does decide to stay at MSU and nets him one of the top college bball contracts/extensions. Hard to argue of one person meaning more to any other college basketball program elsewhere.
I'm not buying the "underappreciated" line of thinking
as much after the adulation that’s accompanied the Final Four runs the last two years.
But maybe I live a sheltered existence in the TOC bubble.
Fight for The Only Colors: Green and White!
by KJ@theonlycolors on Jun 9, 2010 11:00 AM CDT up reply actions
Wouldn't get too much love if he left now....
How are we supposed to do a complete coaching search in June? What will happen to our recruits?
I can see Lucas and Summers mailing it in next season as they let their thoughts wander to the NBA.
Izzo sure would leave the school that he loves so much in a pretty bad position.
by RickTheBloggerMartel on Jun 9, 2010 11:29 AM CDT up reply actions
Which is why...
Dan Gilbert would never be welcome at the Alumni Golf outing…
by SpartyOn37 on Jun 9, 2010 11:30 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Interesting
That “he’s received assurances from the coaching staff that Izzo isn’t leaving.” That’s not going to sit well if he does go.
For the record
There are numerous possibilities about what’s going on right now and I know some people are ready to write Izzo off as gone,
However, I am very open to the possibility that Izzo is coming back, knows he’s coming back, has given a strong indication to certain people that he’s coming back, but for reasons that are his own has decided to not clear the air publicly at this time. Not saying that’s the case but I think it’s one possibility amongst many.
I was thinking something similar
Even if he has no interest in this job right now, but wants to keep the NBA door open, he would not want to instantly turn down the possibility to coach (coach the best player in the league at that). He has made it clear that NBA intrigues him and more than likely doesn’t mind being on the short list for head coach openings. Any college offer I’m sure he would openly turn down right away at this point in his career (ex, Oregon).
luttez pour les seuls couleurs, vert et blanc
by vert_et_blanc on Jun 9, 2010 11:22 AM CDT up reply actions
From the Twitternet
http://www.fantasysp.com/player/nba/LeBron_James/981148
It's going to be a good night.
Probably not the best place for that, but oh well
It's going to be a good night.
by Spartalytical on Jun 9, 2010 9:31 AM CDT up reply actions
Media adjustments
Interesting that the Izzo-to-the-Cavs narrative is beginning to get reframed a bit with some of the media—and especially NBA beat writers—now that it’s been out there for a day or two: I’ve now seen a couple of pieces that suggest that hiring a college coach with no NBA experience isn’t the best strategy if the franchise feels it needs to win now, while its star is in the prime years of his career (and implicitly making a case for JVG or Scott). Even concerns intimated—perhaps triggered by the presser—that Gilbert is wearing green-colored glasses in making this choice largely solo. Everyone agrees that Izzo is a great college coach, but question whether his style and intensity translates to the professional ranks. Not surprising, but then again, it seems like the NBA likes to recycle through the same coaches over and over again. They’d hire Cotton Fitzsimmons or Dick Motta if they could.
by RobbingGormanThomas on Jun 9, 2010 10:01 AM CDT reply actions
The Saban parallels are worth noting
Izzo has accomplished more than Bo, or Lloyd, and why isn’t there a Spartan Replay TV
show? That is the main point, which is tantamount to the King (no pun intended) with no
clothes.
Isn't Lebron close with Worldwide Wes?
It’s hard to imagine Izzo getting tangled up with these guys. Worldwide Wes represents everything that is wrong with college basketball. I seriously doubt Izzo will get any inside information from Lebron’s crew regarding where he is signing. Izzo won’t let this play out until July. I’m starting to feel like this is all hoopla.
Not to mention...
All the reports of a certain Rap Mogul who is a Minority owner of a major market franchise who is “good friends” with LeBron, who just so happens to be personally recruiting the 25-year old to play for his team in their brand new arena in the largest media market in the United States…
Any truth to a player meeting yesterday?
http://twitter.com/PDcavsinsider
It's going to be a good night.
Rumor mill churning....
Some saying that Roe told his high school coach that Izzo is gone. Multiple people claiming to have talked with Green and Thornton on campus, saying that he’s staying.
It appears we’re in for a lot of rumoring for awhile.
It's funny.
All offseason, I figured someone wouldn’t be back. Wouldn’t figure it to have been the coach.
Read Lynn Henning's article on detnews
It will make you feel better.
His basic point is that this day was coming someday. Either from another job offer, or when Izzo retires. Granted that could have been in 10 years, but Izzo didn’t seem like the kind of guy to coach late into his life. But even if Izzo stayed it would have been hard to replicate the succes he has had in the last 10 years, or that they would be preparing to turn over a team coming off two straight final fours, and that is poised for another.
Izzo has turned this into a top flight program that is absolutely loaded. I’ve talked about this cavs offer being a once in a lifetime shot for Izzo. The MSU job could easily be that for whatever up and coming or established coaches that Hollis and Simon target. Whether that is a former Izzo assistant (likely) or someone else (I’ve heard Brad Stevens name keep coming up, although Butler just gave him an extension and he says he’s happy there, but hey we know what that might be worth).
So yea, I want Izzo to stay. But he has put this program in a position to succed going forward both in terms of facilities, reputation, and current and incoming players. So i’m backing off on my panic meter.
Speaking of success going forward
What a complicated emotion if Izzo has to watch Day Day, Lucas, Durrell, and Delvon cut down nets while coaching his Cavs during a regular season game with 1/3 the intensity. That’s gotta be bittersweet.
Not me.
The collection of egos and injury issues that make up this group can be handled best by Izzo. I could see next year going off the rails, especially considering the schedule and how tough the league is.
Well I agree
that the immediate future does not look as good without Izzo sitting there. These are still his guys and his team. Nobody is going to pick us to win the title without him this season. I was talking more about the program in general being able to move forward.
by trivialstuff16 on Jun 9, 2010 2:05 PM CDT up reply actions
Honestly
Both short term and long term would be hazy. Think of all the programs that are sorta has-beens (Arizona, UofM, Uconn in two years). Maybe not horrible teams, but really shells of their former teams. I’m very pessimistic.
Twitter has exploded with this report, citing a meeting with the players.
http://www.waitingfornextyear.com/?p=29584
It says that Izzo has informed the players that he is leaving.
Not the most reputable of sources. But not a good sign. Would think we’ll get confirmation or denial fairly quickly.
Brian Gregory, line 1.
Resolution is coming
Because if this is true, it’ll slowly receive consensus confirmation.
Or it’ll become something Izzo will need to squash if he’s not taking the job.
Not buying
That blog just started popping up with MSU stories this week. No track record. I’m sure Izzo told the players he’s seriously looking at the Cavs job, which is spinning into “he’s leaving” as it spreads across campus.
New post on the Izzo/Cavs situation is up.
Fight for The Only Colors: Green and White!
by KJ@theonlycolors on Jun 9, 2010 2:10 PM CDT up reply actions
From the Twitter
Just spoke to another person extremely close with Tom Izzo and re-affirmed this report by WFNY is “not true”.
Michigan State source told FOXSports.com that the Tom Izzo report by WFNY that he’s taking the Cavs job is “absolutely untrue.”
http://twitter.com/goodmanonfox
Fight for The Only Colors: Green and White!
by KJ@theonlycolors on Jun 9, 2010 2:23 PM CDT up reply actions
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