Tom Izzo cautions Iowa basketball fans yearning for change: 'Watch what you wish for'

Tom Izzo cautions Iowa basketball fans yearning for change: ‘Watch what you wish for’

Posted by author March 7, 2025 Basketball

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IOWA CITY — There are two Big Ten men’s basketball coaches more tenured at their current institutions than Fran McCaffery. One is Purdue’s Matt Painter. The other was on the visiting sideline at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Thursday.

Tom Izzo is in his 30th season as Michigan State’s head coach. Because of his longevity and success, he is one of the most respected voices in the college basketball world. When he talks, people tend to listen.

Izzo gave his perspective on scrutinized Iowa coach Fran McCaffery after Michigan State’s 91-84 win over the Hawkeyes.

“I know this: He’s sticking around if it’s up to me because I need him,” Izzo said in response to a reporter’s question about McCaffery. “I need some of the guys that helped build this conference again and he’s one of them. And I think tonight proves it. I mean, we had everything to play for. They didn’t have as much to play for. I’m supposed to be such a ‘good coach.’ He kicked my butt, our butt, for most of that time.”

Iowa played one of its best halves of the season on Thursday. The Hawkeyes controlled a battle-tested Spartan team, leading by as many as 14 points in the first half.

But as has been the case on multiple occasions this season, Iowa didn’t have enough to finish the job against quality competition. The Hawkeyes’ fate on Thursday was similar to the games against Iowa State, Purdue, Wisconsin and Oregon at Carver Hawkeye-Arena. So was a near-miss on the road against Michigan.

After holding Michigan State to just 30 points in the first half, the Spartans’ offense exploded after the break. Michigan State delivered a jarring 61 points in the second half, an output that even Iowa’s high-powered offense could not keep up with.

McCaffery was asked after the game how Iowa contained Michigan State in the first half and how the Spartans were able to get going in the second half. His full response was: “27 free throws in the second half.”

After Michigan State shot just three of them in the first half, Izzo’s team took 27 from the charity stripe in the second. The Spartans finished the game attempting 12 more free throws than the Hawkeyes.

Regardless of what — or who — you want to point the finger at, Thursday was another example of a struggling team finding a way to lose. Meanwhile, Michigan State overcame a slow start to capture an outright Big Ten regular-season title.

“His team outplayed us 75% of that game,” Izzo said of McCaffery and Iowa. “Did a hell of a job.”

Video: Michigan State coach Tom Izzo on Fran McCaffery, Iowa basketball

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo provides his thoughts on Fran McCaffery, Iowa men’s basketball program.

Noise outside of the program has ramped up substantially as Iowa’s season has continued to crumble. The Hawkeyes have lost 11 of their last 14 games and a berth in the Big Ten Tournament is in jeopardy entering the regular-season finale at Nebraska on Sunday.

Iowa entered Friday one game out of 15th place in the league. The top 15 teams advance to the Big Ten tournament.

McCaffery reaffirmed his intentions earlier this week.

“I’m fully committed to the program, to the players,” McCaffery said. “I have no intention of moving on. I just came to work today, tried to figure out how we can beat Michigan State.”

Izzo cautioned Iowa fans who desire a coaching change.

“Watch what you wish for,” Izzo said. “I’ve seen this happen at a couple of football programs close to us. People better appreciate (him). It’s easy to throw stones.”

Izzo is right in the sense that the grass isn’t always greener. McCaffery’s eventual successor, whoever and whenever that may be, isn’t guaranteed to be a success.

But on the other hand, Iowa’s current state of affairs isn’t very good. Iowa is barreling toward its second consecutive season missing the NCAA Tournament. The last time it won a game in the Big Dance was 2021.

Engagement around the program has left much to be desired. In its first 15 regular-season games at Carver-Hawkeye Arena this season, Iowa averaged less than 5,000 tickets scanned per contest, according to an open-records request obtained by the Register. The venue can seat roughly three times that.

“I just went through a three-year period where everybody wants to ship me out,” said Izzo, whose team is now the champion in the first regular season of the new-look, 18-team Big Ten. “It’s just the way it is. They don’t have the resources here. I’m going to say what I think. This ain’t what Fran thinks. Everybody has different amounts of resources. They’re not on the middle or high end.”

The financial aspect is important, as Izzo hinted at.

There are rosters in the Big Ten reportedly earning around $8 million this season. Iowa’s roster payroll is in the range of $1.1 million to $1.5 million, according to reporting by the Register’s Chad Leistikow. Based on the money (or lack thereof) at its disposal, Iowa faces an uphill battle to build a competitive roster. Financial resources don’t always result in a successful season. But in the modern landscape of college sports, it’s difficult to win without enough money.

Simply put, Iowa needs more financial investment in the men’s basketball program, regardless of who the head coach is next season.

“Everybody says, well, we’re paying guys money now, so you should be able to win,” Izzo said. “Well, don’t you think the rest of us are paying money? (It’s) no different.”

Izzo was complimentary of McCaffery and made it clear where he stands on the subject of McCaffery’s future.

“I know what I think, I know what the coaching community thinks,” Izzo said of McCaffery. “That’s all I can tell you. I watched it. I was 40 feet from it. He’s got a lot left in the tank. I promise you that.”

Follow Tyler Tachman on X @Tyler_T15, contact via email at ttachman@gannett.com