Big Ten Coach of the Year, Hall of Famer Tom Izzo, and the Michigan State Spartans beat the Oregon Ducks in the first quarterfinal Big Ten Tournament game on Friday. Following the game, Izzo came to the defense of the Oregon basketball program when asked what it felt like beating the Ducks for a second time in the last six weeks by double-digits. His response was a strong rebuttal to the idea the Ducks were a vastly inferior team, but instead someone that opposing teams should fear in the NCAA Tournament.
“There was no beat up. Were you drinking, or were you seeing a different game,” Izzo asked the reporter at the Big Ten postgame press conference. “We had one stretch where we got ahead of them, but I mean, that was a dogfight. Let me tell you something, that is a good team.”
The Spartans beat the Ducks 74-64 to end the Ducks’ regular season at 24-8 overall. Oregon will be safely released into the NCAA Tournament field on Sunday. The question becomes where will Oregon be sent. The Ducks are projected to play as either a No. 5 or No. 4 seed and are viewed by most NCAA Tournament projections to play in the Seattle pod out west.
Playing close to home would be a welcomed sight for the Ducks after having to travel over 27,000 miles this season, the second-most by a college team this season. Dana Altman was asked about all the travel on Thursday and he echoed his same response as he has all year: The Ducks signed up for the Big Ten and have no complaints to make publicly.
Izzo stepped into that void to defend the Ducks and the travel they’ve had to make this season.
“Let me tell you something else too, they are adjusting, as we adjust sometimes,” said Izzo. “They’ve had to come here three, four times now. They just played a game at 9:00 in the morning. I know he won’t make any excuse, he’s too good a coach, but I’ll make some for him. I don’t know how I would fare in that.”
Izzo says the Ducks will present a tough matchup for whoever they face in the NCAA Tournament. He’s seen the Ducks in-person twice and knows the talent and potential they will have.
“By the way, Oregon did beat Alabama, didn’t they? Make sure you judge the whole thing, not just the part. I think they went through a tough time there in a stretch. And what nobody understands yet is the schedule and the way it is, and who you could play and who you could play twice. And when you play them, it makes a big difference. We’re all adjusting to that,” said Izzo.
“We’re not an NBA team. Even though everyone wants us to be a pro outfit, we’re not. We go to school, and we’ve got to do other things. If you’re from Oregon, I’d be willing to make you a side bet. I guess that’s against NCAA rules…But I bet you that they make some noise in the tournament.”
The Ducks will go into the NCAA Tournament with a strong NCAA Tournament resume. Oregon claims wins over No. 5 Alabama, No. 11 Maryland, No. 14 Texas A&M, No. 18 Wisconsin, and other wins over expected NCAA Tournament teams like San Diego State, Indiana, Troy, and Montana. The Ducks are 8-7 in Quad 1 games and 8-2 in games against Quad 2 opponents.
The NCAA Tournament field will be released on Sunday at 3 PM PT on CBS.
