Copyright Arkansas Online
On a night when the No. 14 University of Arkansas men's basketball team shot poorly and struggled on the defensive glass in a 69-66 loss at No. 22 Michigan State, Coach Tom Izzo remained complimentary of the Razorbacks. In the lead-up to Saturday's game, Izzo said it would be a "great test" for his squad going up against the athleticism and skill of Arkansas. During his postgame news conference at the Breslin Center, Izzo kept a similar tone about John Calipari's team. "I told some of you, watching them on film was scary," Izzo said. "I really meant it, too. I still think before the year is over, that is going to be a really, really good team." The shooting woes for the Razorbacks (1-1) were perhaps partially influenced by a rowdy announced crowd of 14,797 that was into the game from the jump. Izzo said the home-court advantage made a difference, noting he thinks playing at home can be a bigger deal in basketball than football. "These are big games for this early, and this is why it's hard to go on the road and play these kind of games," Izzo said. "Because the advantage goes to the home team early until everybody gets their feet on the ground." Arkansas used its perimeter defense to stay in the game, holding Michigan State to 1 of 14 (7%) from three-point range. The Razorbacks also scored 17 points scored turnovers, but that was ultimately not enough to overcome the 46 points in the paint they surrendered. "Both teams, I thought, played well defensively," Izzo said. "You watch John's team, they're going to win a lot of games. I'm telling you, that is a talented team. And they've got to learn to play together, too, just like we're trying to." Michigan State (2-0) is under contract to fulfill the back end of a home-and-home series with a visit to Fayetteville next season. Izzo called himself a "home-and-home guy." "It's a privilege and an honor to go there," Izzo said of Walton Arena. "You know me, I'd rather play in everybody's home. I've tried to play every game I can play on the planet in somebody else's home. I think those are the great things. But I think our fans deserve to have this ... even the media here deserves to have good home games, so you don't have to travel." Both coaches mentioned how good of an early season game it was, and they both made flattering remarks of the other. Izzo called Calipari -- his longtime friend -- a "hell of a coach" and mentioned how their wives met for the first time today. "Sometimes his wife laughs because of our conversations, because I think with certain things that we've done, we agree," Izzo said. "We're on many boards together over the years. You know, (Calipari) gets misconstrued sometimes. He's a funny dude, but he's really smart. I mean, he really is. "And what I love about him, I think he really cares about the game. I just looked at a couple of -- I don't know if they're podcasts or whatever -- and I watched them the other day, and I said, 'Wow, I agree with everything he says.' " Both coaches indicated the early November game featured a pair of teams that could make deep postseason runs. Yet both listed many things their squads must get better at before March rolls around. "First time (for Arkansas) on the road, some of those (players are) freshmen," Izzo said. "It's going to take a little while for (Calipari), too. But he's got a nice team. He really does."
