Tom Izzo of the Spartans shouts at a former player, resulting in his ejection from the game

Tom Izzo Expresses Frustration Over Former Player’s Actions

Michigan State’s head coach, Tom Izzo, is no stranger to showing anger towards his players, but an incident on Monday night against USC marked a notable shift. During the Spartans’ commanding 80-51 victory over the Trojans, Izzo directed his frustration towards a familiar face: former player Paul Davis.

Davis, who was a center for Michigan State from 2002-2006, stirred up some controversy by reacting strongly to a call in the second half. He was seated courtside and yelled at referee Jeffrey Anderson, prompting the official to stop the game and address Izzo about the situation.

Izzо, visibly upset, gestured at Davis, seemingly questioning his behavior. As things escalated, Izzo shouted, “Get out of here!” in response to Davis asking for someone to leave him alone, which seemed to be an attempt to apologize for his outburst.

After the game, when asked about the incident, Izzo didn’t hold back. He shared his thoughts on Davis’ comments, stating, “What he said is something you should never say anywhere in the world. That pissed me off.” Izzo reflected on the years since Davis played, emphasizing that he planned to contact him about the incident. “What is he going to say? ‘I messed up, coach. I’m sorry,'” he added.

Izzo made a point to clarify that Davis’ remarks were neither racially charged nor inappropriate in a sexual context. In his own words, “I just said the wrong thing, so I’ll leave it at that.”

Davis later addressed reporters, offering an apology. He owned up to the situation, asserting, “I’m not here to make excuses. I’m here to take responsibility and be accountable. It was a mistake that will never happen again.” He noted that although it might not have been his error, the evening certainly became a regrettable moment.

Looking back at Davis’ time with the Spartans, Izzo expressed that he always regarded him as one of his “favorite guys.” During his sophomore year, Davis enjoyed a breakout season, averaging impressive stats that contributed significantly to the team.

Davis, who was a senior during his last season at Michigan State, averaged a career-high of 17.5 points over 33 games before being selected by the Los Angeles Clippers in the second round of the 2006 NBA Draft. He later played four seasons in the NBA, with the Washington Wizards being his final team.