NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: REGIONAL SEMIFINAL - MICHIGAN STATE VS KANSAS STATE

March 22, 2023

Tom Izzo

Tyson Walker

A.J. Hoggard

Malik Hall

Joey Hauser

Madison Square Garden

Michigan State Spartans

Sweet 16 Pregame Media Conference

TOM IZZO: What a privilege it is. First of all, it's great to be in the Sweet 16, but to have it in New York, Madison Square Garden, where we all know is the mecca of basketball, not college, pro, anything, it's been a big thrill for us.

We know that we're going to play a good team in Kansas State. It's been an incredible journey, especially this last month and a half, and yet we're playing some of our better basketball. We've kind of alternated between our offense and our defense, and sooner or later, I'd like to put the two together. If we could ever have both working at the same time, I think we would be even a better team, and yet last weekend our defense kind of carried us, which a lot of times is needed in the NCAA Tournament.

Excited to be here. Proud of my team and what they've accomplished so far, and yet have great respect for Jerome and what he's done at Kansas State and their basketball team.

Q. You mentioned getting the offense and defense working together. I'm wondering if there's one or two players maybe who you think can really orchestrate that and be the catalyst for that to happen in a game?

TOM IZZO: Well, I don't think there's any question, it's A.J. Your quarterback has to orchestrate, and he's done a much better job.

I think last game we didn't shoot the ball really well, and I thought we had some decent shots. We just missed some shots.

Over a conference season, we're a team that shot almost 40 percent from three, so the sample size of two games, I don't think it's in anybody's head. We just didn't shoot it as well in those two games.

I think we'll shoot it better if we get our running game going. I think that'll help. I think this game will be up and down. I think they want to run, we want to run, and yet at the end of the day, you've got to make shots, no matter who you are. That helps you win.

At the end of the day, though, the other thing that helps you is your defense travels, and over the years, it's helped me a lot.

Q. Tom, you've had some awfully good guards over the years, but can you recall a time when you've had three guards that play both ends of the floor like these three guys do?

TOM IZZO: You know, it's been a while. I get back in the day with Mateen and Charlie and if you call Morris a guard, but he probably wasn't a guard so you're probably right. We got him to guard people, and we had two defenders that were off the charts, and now we have three guys that can really guard the ball.

Yet, as you said, now that Jaden is starting to shoot it better, A.J. is shooting it better and distributing it better, I think I'd have to agree. I thought the best one I had maybe was a Gary Harris. He could guard you on one end and score it on the other.

But I've got three guys that -- and Tyson, can't be fooled by his size, just like they've got a guard you can't be fooled by his size, either.

But Tyson is a very good defender. Probably doesn't get as much credit as he did at Northeastern, where he was defensive Player of the Year, because he is a very good defender.

Q. You mentioned what Coach Tang has done in your opening statement. Can you elaborate on that? He started with two players, and to get to where they are.

TOM IZZO: Well, he's used the transfer portal well, and it's worked pretty well for him. I think the other thing, though, is you took at him -- and this is taking nothing away from him -- but he is an experienced non-experienced head coach. I spent 12 or 13 years with Jud Heathcote, and that really helped prepare me.

I remember Jud saying one time, would you rather take a smaller job just so you can say you're the head coach, or would you rather prepare for Indiana and Michigan and Purdue every day.

I think that helped me. I think Scott Drew really helped Jerome. They built that program. They built it together just like I built mine with my assistants over the years.

If you watch them, I think he was given a lot of power just like I was at the end. I think Scott had a lot of faith in Jerome, so he had more than just suggestive power that sometimes assistants have.

I think he was -- Roy Williams was born to take over a bigger job. Some people leave early and work their way up through the ranks like Bill Self did. Some people stay like I did or Jerome did and prepare yourself that way.

I think he deserves a lot of credit. I think Scott Drew deserves a lot of credit, and I think it shows that we need our assistants. Assistants are more valuable than sometimes any of us give them. I think he did a lot for that Baylor program, and that's why they had the success they had. And Scott allowed them to and helped prepare him to be a head coach, and so I'm sure he's very grateful of that, too.

Q. Talking about Tyson, there's so much kind of lore about these New York City point guards. Is there something that distinguishes New York City kids? Is there an attitude, something about them that is notable?

TOM IZZO: Well, you know, he's not from the heart of the city, but he does have that swagger about him. His is a little more -- I think sometimes the New York swagger is a very cocky swagger, and sometimes that's good. You've got to be -- he's kind of had the happy medium. He's got enough cockiness to be confident, and yet he's an unbelievable kid.

At his size, he wants to guard you, but he also wants to take big shots. He's the best two-way player I've had probably since Gary, where he can do it on both ends. And that's so valuable to a team, and it's so good to be able to tell other scorers that he can get you 30 on some nights and he can shut down the other players.

I don't know if it is New York City. Unfortunately I don't recruit enough out here. But Tyson would definitely give me a lot of reasons. He's been an unbelievable kid. I think he was humble. He came from Northeastern. He's appreciative. He gave one of the all-time great speeches after we got beat by Duke on just how appreciative he was to be able to be on those kind of stages. And then this year the stage is even bigger because it's Madison Square Garden. It's his home grounds, and it is the Sweet 16.

It's been fun to watch him grow, and hopefully he'll play well. I don't think he'll be nervous. Got me my pizza last night. I'm looking for the cab ride today.

Q. As far as Walker being back in New York, has he communicated anything to you about a certain level of excitement with being here, a certain level of people are going to come out to try to come see him? Was New York something that was like a carrot dangled to him?

TOM IZZO: I just told him, no old girlfriends better show up around me, that's all I told him.

You know, he was excited. The joke about the pizza and the cab, I always tell my players, you help us win the first game and I'll get you through to the second and the weekend because we've had some success in that over the years.

And in between games last weekend, that's when I talked to them, this is a privilege and an honor, and it's something you should dream about when you're out shooting baskets outside. A chance to play in Madison Square Garden, which growing up in New York, it's probably even bigger than it is growing up in the Midwest because you know what the Garden is. I just like walking through the Garden and seeing the pictures of all the great performers, the great boxers like Muhammad Ali and things that have gone on here are incredible.

He was excited. He's kind of a reserved kid. He gets excited. He gets angry sometimes, but he's a pretty reserved guy. I just know it meant a lot to him. I know it meant a lot to his family. What a great experience, to play Duke in Mike's last game, and then play against Kansas State in his home ground in arguably the greatest arena in the world. Pretty cool. Pretty cool for him.

Q. You haven't played these guys since your first two years, and a home and home series. When you realized you were playing them, do you have any recollection of those two games when you think about where your program was at those moments when you played them around Christmas the first two years?

TOM IZZO: Yeah, I was mad at Jud. He scheduled those two games. I think my first year I went Kansas State, Oklahoma State. My schedule was off the chart because he got some home games at the end of his career, and then I was stuck with the aftermath of that.

You know, I remember going down there, and it was a long time ago, though, and I don't think it's going to have anything to do with tomorrow's game. I just think that I've been blessed to be in it long enough that I have memories like that. I can remember back to some of the teams we played and what we did.

As far as anything that's going to benefit me or make me fearful, not at all.

Q. Both Tyson and Markquis Nowell transferred up from low majors, mid majors, whatever you want to call them. What did you see in Tyson at Northeastern that made you think he could play at your level, and what does it say about the college game now that these mid-major guys are moving up and making an impact?

A. Well, it's like everything else. They've earned their keep. He played there a couple years. He played for a very good coach, and that was one of the things. Then when we got to know him and his family, he's a hell of a kid, he's a good student, he does things the right way. He hangs his hat on his defense. It's almost un-American and illegal now, but he does it and he's proud of it. You've just got to love a kid like that.

But he works. I think he's hungry, too. I think some guys that are at this level all the time are transferring from this level, there's too much entitlement. He's not entitled. I absolutely love that about him. He wasn't entitled at all, and if you could have heard his speech after the Duke game, it was kind of about that.

It was, I dreamed of playing in places like this, in games like this against the competition. So he wasn't going to miss out on that opportunity.

I think that chip on your shoulder is really good. I've still got a chip on my shoulder because of where I came from. And I think too many times those chips are taken off these kids when they're 10, 11, 12 years old and they're changing AAU teams and high schools and junior highs and whatever else they do. He spoke highly of the place he was at. He spoke well of the coach. He just did all the things that I would appreciate anyway.

I've been lucky to have him, and I think every once in a while when I'll say, hey, we're taking a bus trip to Chicago and normally you fly, I said, for me as a Division II guy, those bus trips were eight, nine hours. But Ty, you've taken a few of those, two, right? We laughed about it.

But if you haven't done it, you've been so spoiled and entitled that you never done it that you wouldn't appreciate it as much. He appreciates things, and I appreciate him for that.

Q. You've kind of touched upon it before, the specialness and the uniqueness of this place. What does this place mean to you, and do you try and impress upon your players, outside of obviously Tyson who knows the area, about what Madison Square Garden means to college basketball and being on this stage?

TOM IZZO: Yeah, I've always impressed we played Kentucky here in the Tournament of Champions and we played Duke here. I've set a lot of records here, helped Mike set his record for the most wins. Unfortunately those records were at my -- you know what I'm saying -- expense, good word. Kind of a four-letter word, and under guys show expenses a little more than that, but that's exactly right.

But there is the thrill of playing here. When you talk to -- for us, the Steve Smiths and Magic Johnsons, there's nothing like the mecca. There's nothing like Madison Square Garden.

When we have the opportunity to play here, I always talk about it as a privilege. We get to play in a lot of great places, but it's not just college basketball, either, as you know. It's basketball, period. It doesn't matter what it is. This place is known for it, and you know what, I'm not saying I've had a lot of great success here, so this will be a good weekend to change that.

Q. Tyson, I know you've been asked about coming back to New York and being from New York, so I apologize for asking you again. There's sort of a myth and a lore to being a New York City point guard, Bob Cousy, Sue Bird, Stephon Marbury. Were there point guards you patterned your game after? Do you think being a New York guard gives you some kind of swagger? What is your position or what do you think of yourself in comparison to the history of New York point guards?

TYSON WALKER: I didn't model my game after anybody. I kind of just played, watched my brother growing up. So kind of played like him.

You know, he does have a swagger, just a different type of swag playing out here. Just got to be tough. Got a different type of finesse with you.

Q. You're going to get a lot of New York questions this week. Both you and Markquis transferred up from whatever you want to call it, mid majors, low majors. Coach was just in here saying he thinks guys who have played at that level have more of an appreciation for this level and not as much of a sense of entitlement. What are your thoughts on making that transition and how much do you appreciate being at this level after Northeastern?

TYSON WALKER: Transition, it definitely started off rough. Beginning of the season last year, I was kind of struggling and kind of figured it out as the season went on, and now just getting back to my old self.

You do have an appreciation for it, though, just all the staff you've got, travel. It's all different. Like doing this, it's all different than you have at a mid-major.

Q. A.J., Tom was asked yesterday about the transfer portal and his decision to stick with his guys and put the faith in you guys. Is that a two-way street for players when you see that, that your coach and staff has that faith in you? Does that create what you guys have become, having that faith in them and having that success.

A.J. HOGGARD: Yeah, most definitely shows the confidence Coach had in us. He seen something in us from last year and knew that the core guys coming back, the veteranship that we had, could definitely do something special this year.

And we're just trying to -- it's definitely a two-way street. Coach trusts us, we trust him, so we're trying to give it our all and continue to make memories with each other.

Q. Tyson, can you tell us a little bit about your New York places that you liked to go, playgrounds that you liked to play at, teams you liked to play against, places you liked to eat, things that you've told your teammates about?

TYSON WALKER: I haven't told my teammates anything.

Q. Could you tell us?

TYSON WALKER: I don't have any favorites. I don't really -- I haven't really been home in five years, so it's no different.

Q. (No microphone)

TYSON WALKER: I'm going to try to go home and see my dog. That's about it.

Q. What's his name?

TYSON WALKER: Saint.

Q. Tyson, A.J. or Joey or Malik, I want to ask you this question. In reference to this tournament, how do you guys feel about playing up in New York?

MALIK HALL: I'd say I'm excited. It's not my first time playing here. I played here my freshman year and then a couple times over the last two years. It's something I'm definitely looking forward to, something I'm excited about. Ready for the atmosphere. It's going to be a fun game.

JOEY HAUSER: Same thing. Playing in the Garden never gets old. I'm glad Tyson Walker gets to come back home and play.

Q. Joey, I am curious, obviously with the game being on this big of a stage and being in New York, how do you guys keep focused over the next couple days so you don't get intimidated by the atmosphere and the stage that you're on?

JOEY HAUSER: We've played here before, so I think we're used to it, playing in this setting. But I think honestly you just want to soak up every moment and just live in the experience and enjoy it. I think that's the best way to go about it.

We've gotten here because of the way we play and our game, and we've elevated it over the past couple weeks, so we're just going to go out there and keep playing the same game, but definitely live in the moment and soak it all in.

Q. Tyson, what did you remember about playing in the Catholic league, and did you ever face Markquis Nowell?

TYSON WALKER: Yeah, we played a couple times sophomore and junior year. Catholic league is good. A lot of talented people. There was a lot of big names playing in that game, some in the pros. It's a good league. Still is a good league. That's really it.

Q. What is it like to now see a guy you played against in high school, to now be facing him on this stage?

TYSON WALKER: He's not the first one, but it is definitely cool because we played each other a lot of times. But playing on this stage is even better.

Q. A.J. talk a little bit about Tyson's development and how you two together have kind of worked the point and work off the ball and the things that you do that make each other special.

A.J. HOGGARD: I think it starts with our friendship. That goes deeper than basketball. Just the transition that he's made from last year starting off a little slow, the adjustment he made coming in and playing Big Ten basketball, he's just back to his old self. He's back to the Tyson; I've known him forever. He's just more comfortable. He's got one job out there, make shots, score the ball. I'll put everybody else in position to make shots.

Just him having that confidence in himself, the guys having confidence in him, Coach, it definitely shows, and it's definitely fun to be a part of.

Q. Tyson, I read a quote from you in high school, you were playing against Saint Peter's and you said the team had the will not to want to go home and that's how you won the game. Do you feel the same way now?

TYSON WALKER: Man, that was six years ago. (Laughter).

Oh, for sure. I feel like the season has flew back, so we don't want this to be our last game. You still want to have more practices, still want to be able to play another game, so just put some more good halves together.

Q. Malik and Joey, what are your initial impressions of Kansas State and what stands out to you about the way they played in the first couple rounds of the NCAA Tournament?

MALIK HALL: First impression is just a really great team. They've had a heck of a year, played very hard, won a lot of very big games, so definitely a very capable team.

I mean, I don't really know what else to say. They're just a really good team.

JOEY HAUSER: Yeah, I would say extremely talented. They played in arguably the best conference in America this year, so they've seen it all. They've seen really good opponents. But definitely really talented and got some really good play makers.

Q. Joey, you said last week you thought you guys had the best backcourt in the tournament. Tom was just saying earlier he couldn't remember having three guards that played both ends in his career. I was curious for you to maybe expand on that a little bit, just what makes this trio so formidable.

JOE HAUSER: I would just say, A.J. talked about it, friendship. It goes deeper than basketball. So they've got a connection where they know where they are on the court, know where each other are, they make plays for each other. Jaden, as well. They all do it on both ends. They can score, they can defend, they can make passes, they can make plays for other guys. All their games are pretty complete.

Q. Malik and Joey, third game in a row with a guard-heavy team where they get a lot of their scoring from guards. I'm wondering what you guys can do defensively or what maybe responsibility you feel on defense to maybe lighten the load of A.J., Tyson, and Jaden on defense, playing against some of the best scorers in the country?

MALIK HALL: I'd just say kind of the same role as if they were switched. Coach emphasizes defense a lot. It's something that we've been working on since my first day here at Michigan State. It's really making sure everybody else is in the gaps, making sure if we have to rotate we're able to help them out. And obviously grabbing rebounds and stuff like that, just so they don't get multiple shots, things like that.

JOEY HAUSER: We always talk about guarding your guard. You've got to be able to guard one-on-one defense. If there's a switch, you've got to be able to stand your ground and just stick with a guy for a possession or whatever it might be. But, yeah, rebounding, limiting them to one possession is important, too, so they just get one shot.

Q. Malik, you spent three years at Sunrise Christian in Kansas. Any experience with Kansas State? Did you ever go to a game or have any thoughts about going there?

MALIK HALL: Yeah, I had a teammate who was committed to go there, eventually decommitted. But I went to a football game not too long ago and now one of my assistant coaches coaches there right now. I know a little bit about the program. Obviously it's a different coach now than it was back then, but...