NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: FIRST ROUND - USC VS MICHIGAN STATE

March 17, 2023

Tom Izzo

Jaden Akins

Tyson Walker

Nationwide Arena

Michigan State Spartans

Media Conference

Michigan State - 72, USC - 62

COACH IZZO: We got our mojo back. We talked about it for two or three weeks. But no secret that I haven't been pleased with our defense. And I'd say 32 or three minutes I thought it was exceptional.

We had a little stretch there when we were ten up. They came back. And part of that was scouting. Big guy, Morgan, hit a shot that we didn't think he could hit. They hurt us on some ball screen slips. And I think we got a little tired with our bigs there for a stretch.

But these guys, especially these two guards, the job they did was incredible. And A.J. was right in there with them.

We haven't played against as many guards as good as Ellis. I love him. He's great job. Keeps his mouth shut, does his job.

And Peterson too is a very good player. I thought that's where the game was won.

We gave up a few other things, and -- so our guards did the job there. Joey rebounded pretty well. What did you end up with, Joey -- eight. He had some big rebounds. They found him for some big shots. He hit big shots.

But Malik Hall played a lot better defensively and offensively. And other than A.J. getting in foul trouble I thought he did a good job defensively and running our team.

So everybody helped, whether it be Jackson getting a -- Kohler getting a bucket. We got a lot out of Tre. Hits a big shot and hurt his knee a little bit, but it's not twisted, just banged.

And I thought that Carson Cooper did a good job. He's big and sometimes size matters.

Other than that, I'm just happy we're moving on. And I'm happy we're moving on the right way.

Now, free-throw shooting -- go ahead, you comment on it.

TYSON WALKER: It was a bad day.

COACH IZZO: Well said.

Q. Talk about focus on Ellis and Tyson steals and you and A.J.

TYSON WALKER: Just we knew coming into the game he can really score the ball. Makes tough shots. Just tried to make every shot he took tough. Keep your hand up, no fouling, no reaching because he's really crafty with the ball. He plays with it. Just trying to lock in and just play solid defense. And we did a good job. Every shot he took was contested?

Q. The anticipation?

TYSON WALKER: That was just making people pick up their dribble and being in the pass lane. We didn't get too far in the gap. We were up high enough that we could get it. Okay.

JADEN AKINS: Coming in we knew he was the engine that made the team go. And we felt if we kind of limited his play we had a good chance to win. And I feel like that's what we did.

Q. Coach had said that lack of energy was what really pulled you guys back on the defensive end. Do you think it was that energy today that allowed you to propel yourselves forward against USC?

TYSON WALKER: Yes, especially in the second half, just getting stops and the crowd getting into it. That helped us get more energy. And our bench was really good today. They kept talking. Coach kept talking. And we know we had to finish the game out and we just kept guarding.

JADEN AKINS: I mean, we know defense wins games. We had a couple of losses late in the season. We just knew we didn't want to go home today. We know that's a big staple for us -- if we get stops we have a good chance to win. We just made that our focus, and I feel like we carried that out well.

Q. Tyson, could you talk about the second half. The score was tied. You guys go on a run. Pretty much take charge of the game. What's going on during that period (inaudible).

(Three minutes of lost audio)

COACH IZZO: You know, like I said, we all gotta look in the mirror and say, are we doing the things that we need to do to really compete at this level and compete during this time of year. And it was rewarding to hear the guys at halftime talking about we've got to get back our defense.

We were really good for a lot of the first. It was rewarding in the huddles at the end to hear them talking about the defense. I think they understand that in this tournament hard to make a bunch of 3s and win on a consistent basis. So if you're looking to win some games instead of a game, you better bring your defense.

Q. Obviously the conversation leading up to this game was partially how tall and long USC is and how good they are at defending 2s. Wondering how you got 32 points in the paint and why you were so successful in that area.

COACH IZZO: Some of it was off turnovers. They turned the ball over, not a ton, but we only turned it over seven times, which is seriously for one of my teams a North American record if maybe not a world record.

And I thought that that made some difference. We got some points off turnovers.

I thought we got some points off fast breaks. And if you defend better and rebound better you get more fast breaks. Jaden had the big dunk, but we had a couple other ones. Joey had a nice 3. A.J. took the ball to the hoop. Tyson took the ball to the hoop.

I thought we spread them out a little bit on our ball-screen stuff. And we changed up a few things at halftime to slip those things. And I think it helped put them on skates like we were on skates the first, in that stretch in the first half.

Andy is a hell of a coach. I'm telling you, those players, you know, and it's more -- I mean, I can see why -- I really liked Dixon-Waters. I can see why he's the sixth man of the year.

Morgan surprised me. He surprised me. And yet we did do a good job. And when you defend well, you rebound well, you usually run well. And when we were running it -- and we ran better with A.J., but then Tyson started picking it up, and that helped, too.