Izzo-Bulls speculation

Here's what Tom Izzo told me at 8:30 this morning about a Yahoo! report that he's a candidate for the Chicago Bulls job: "I can definitely tell you I've never been contacted by anybody. The answer is no. I 100 percent have not been contacted by anybody there."

    As Izzo sees it, wouldn't he know if he were actually a candidate? Still, the Yahoo! report, citing "multiple league sources," claims Izzo is gaining steam in the Bulls front office and will be contacted.
    So what would he do if contacted? Would he give the Bulls a good listen?
    "I don't know if I would or not," he said from Milwaukee. "I really don't. I've got a class (coming in) here, we've got a chance to do some things."
    Izzo said last year about the Kentucky job and has said in recent years about other jobs that he'll always listen and will never completely rule anything out. That's his stance, and I would expect him to sit down with John Paxson and hear him out if contacted.
    For one thing, Izzo has always been intrigued by the prospect of coaching at the highest level. For another, this is not the typical, two-bit organization (see: Atlanta in 2000) that goes after college coaches and fires them two or three years later.
     He might listen here. But I'd put the chances of Izzo bolting East Lansing for Chicago in the same neighborhood as the chances of Drew Neitzel starting at center for the Bulls next year. It's just my opinion, but it's an educated opinion, and I don't think there's any way he leaves what he has in front of him in East Lansing right now.
    It's always interesting to read a story about a source to a source, and hear the source make sounds of exasperation in the background.
    Izzo is on his way to Milwaukee, visiting 2008 recruit Korie Lucious and recruiting 2009 prospect Jamil Wilson. He was not in front of a computer, so I read him the report, including this paragraph:
    "The Bulls are under the impression, sources said, that Izzo is eager to speak with them..." (chuckle)
    "Some believe he has grown restless in East Lansing..." (groan)
     "...and it’s believed he would’ve become the Kansas coach had Bill Self taken the Oklahoma State job."
    "What?!" Izzo said after hearing that line. "Are you kidding me? Where does that come from? ... Kansas was five years ago!"
    It appears I left him a bit frustrated. Meanwhile, all you MSU fans are going to be leaning forward in your chairs until Chicago hires Rick Carlisle or someone other than Izzo. But I really don't think you'll have to get too close to the edge.

P.S.: I just wanted to clarify Izzo's "five years ago" comment about Kansas. He was talking about speculation, not anything formal, that took place after Roy Williams left for North Carolina. That is all.

Comments

[Mike]

Just another coach trying to use other jobs as a way to get a pay raise from his current employer! Tommy I. will parlay this rumor into another pay raise! The rich get richer!

[ATK]

Mike you are a douchebag...

[NMIch]

Why would Kansas be such a better gig than MSU? I don't get that. It's like we Spartans are supposed to have an iferiority complex or something.

[DCSpartan]

Would Izzo really go to the organization that (somewhat inexplicably, IMHO, though I really don't follow the NBA) fired Scotty Skiles?

[DJ Wonderbread]

I think if it takes a pay raise to keep Tom Izzo here at state, Tom Izzo will get a pay raise.

He doesn't strike me as the kind of guy who does it all for the money. His strengths as a college coach are what make him an outstanding college coach. That doesn't translate to the pros, (Rick Pitino in Boston, anyone?) and vice versa.

[Mike]

Truth hurts, ATK? Maybe fans like you is why Izzo "is growing restless in East Lansing"!

[88Spartan]

I know Tom very well. He's not going anywhere. He can't spend the money he has...although Lupe tries! :o)

[Curt Peterson]

There's no way Izzo leaves! He's got a top class, great group of returning players, and a lot going for him at Michigan State. The NBA isn't that great of a fit for him, and I just can't see him leaving for the NBA. Don't get too worried about this rumor!

[oldspartan]

Seems like Tom was amused, if anything. The only thing that makes sense is that this is part of recruiting wars. Start a rumor - feed the media/internet - make your competitor have to spend time and effort convincing kids it's a rumor.

The only other explanations are Tim IS talking to the Bulls (which I don't buy), or writers have too much time on their hands and are creating news (which has to be bad for your career in the long run).

[bc]

Mike is an idiot. Dumber than white men who vote for Hillary because they believe what she says.

[Derrick]

Almost certainly he isn't going anywhere. He has a lot of love for MSU, and can stay here for the rest of his life if he wants to.

Yes, he will always wonder if he can be successful in another situation, and challenges in life are what drive men like Izzo. However, when it comes down to it, there really is no place like home, and EL is home.

[bca]

Mike is getting dumber by the minute.

[Webber Timeout!!!]

Mike is also undoubtedly wearing a "Fab Five" (or NIT Champs) UM t-shirt, and watching his favorite VHS tape (the biography of Bo Schembechler) in his parents basement, to pass his time today... go back to your Wolvie-blogs dude!

[B White]

Amazing how Izzo is mentioned with every high profile college (IU this year... UK last year...), or newly open NBA job, year after year... yet, he sticks to his true love, MSU. He's not done getting the MSU program to where he wants it, prior to one day handing over the reigns (my guess, 5-8 more years for Izzo, then someone like Brian Gregory takes over)... too much going for Izzo and MSU Basketball right now for Izzo to jump to NBA!!! As MSU fans, the Izzo rumor mill is now to be expected, particularly when our basketball coach is as well respected nationally as Izzo is... we just have to deal with it.

GO STATE!!!

[Matt]

Rumor has it the Bulls brought Neitzel to Chicago to see his post game.

[msb]

unfortunately, this rumor has legs. anyone watching tom's body posture at the breslin the past few years could surmise he was and is ready for a new challenge. the dream of adding more big ten titles and that elusive third national championship banner for msu and second for tom drifts away game by game. for 31 years we have had only jud and tom as msu's head coach and it will be a hard day when we face the problems other schools like indiana have had of scrambling for the right successor. here's hoping i am way wrong.

[kw]

32 years, not 31.

[Nick]

the rumor does not have legs.

[West Coast Steve]

I would hope, as with Jud, that this comes down to core identity. Coach Izzo makes magic at MSU in large part because the values of the person and the place are so closely aligned.

The NBA, in my opinion, is the home of ego without boundary, often without reasonable foundation as is true in most of pro sports. I don't even watch NBA games because the passion for the place and contribution to its people, as in MSU or even um, is supplanted by the abrasive in-your-face ringing of cash registers, with a large helping of empty chest-pounding.

When I've seen the Golden State Warriors play here, the Oakland Coliseum is alway a sad and empty place compared to a Big Ten game in East Lansing or NCAA regional game in the same location.

Unless Coach Izzo is a different person at his core than I perceive, he would walk away from the Bulls feeling rather empty in just a few years. Rick Patino's NBA ride comes to mind. How does a person of Izzo's superlative vision and gifts fit in a world so much more corrupt and ego-obsessed?

[B White]

msb... Maybe IU shouldn't have hired a thug & a cheater in Kelvin Sampson, or they wouldn't have those problems in the first place!?!

Izzo's body posture??? Body posture... ok, then... I guess Jud really wanted to leave for the NBA after a few years at MSU, since he was always slumped over and in a rage, if not slamming a basketball off the court and hitting himself in the face!?! Give me a break...

[Mike]

The NBA isn't all that bad of a gig, but only if Izzo is ready to hang it up after words. He could give the highest level a shot, make big bucks doing it, and if he gets fired, then that's probably it.

I think it's obvious Izzo has designs on another national championship, which would solidify MSU as an elite program with a third, and himself as an a coach with a second. If that happens, then anything is possible. If not, don't look for him to leave in the near future.

[The Coach]

Not IF he gets fired, but when. They all get fired and none do well (from college).

[Rick Carlisle]

Hire him, i say, then hire me for MSU

GO SPARTAAAAAAAAAAAAAANS !!!!

[Bill Clinton]

Mike is not as dumb as those minions out there who listen Obama ramble on eloquently, only to figure out he has not said anything substatively; in other words his messainic message, is a bunch of BS. Listen to him, i mean really listen to him. He is a smooth operator, that can charm the pants off pigs and before you know it, the Islamic world will fulfill the apostate and control North Americ, and destrouy all of us "infidels'. Come on people, do not get mesmerized by snake oil slaesmen. like Rich Rod in A2. Secondly, his preacher believes America desrved what it got on 9/11 ? Are you kidding me ? Vote McCain, Hillary,, heck vote for Kwame again, at least you know his transgressions will be his appetite for booty, and not be weasel who will kowtow to foreign powers are seeking to destroy North America.

[Rick Carlisle]

Hire him, i say, then hire me for MSU

GO SPARTAAAAAAAAAAAAAANS !!!!

[Don Corleone]

I heard Dantonio hired Izzo as linebackers coach ? Who is going to Coach our team now ? Huh ? Who ? Now what ? Crean went to Iu ? Williams to NC ? Diebler committed to OSU. Pelosi to Nebraska. You think Mac Brown would want MSU B Ball job ? Boy big change let me tell yu..big change...Koufus to NBA ........dang..

[steved]

Love the comment by BC...dumber than white men voting for Hillary because they believe her. Mike is just plain stupid. AS a buddy of mine once said.."You can't fix stupid".

[spartaninboston]

This is a waste of our time. Lets focus on Izzo's recruiting in 09/10. Do you think Nix will end up as a four star during his senior year? What are our chances for the Milwaukee kid? Izzo isn't leaving the Spartans for the Bulls. Just think about it, the Bulls have no chance of winning a championship, let alone knocking the Pistons, Magic or Celtics off of the block. Its not a great opportunity.

[Bill]

isnt there better things to be worrying about?

[Spartan in St Augustine]

even the PTI guys don't think this will happen, but them talking about it is NOT a good thing, IMHO.

[Oz]

Whatever.

[xwing]

joe, the stars:

i agree that the recruiting services aren't perfect but you have to admit they are pretty accurate.

here are some 5 star players the last two years on scout.com:

Greg Oden
Kevin Durant
Brandan Wright
Tywon Lawson
Brook Lopez
Robin Lopez
Mike Conley
O.J. Mayo
Michael Beasley
Kevin Love
Eric Gordon
Derrick Rose
Kyle Singler

the 04' and 05' recruiting classes for msu was pretty average and i think has limited their sucess the last few years. i think they are making strides...

[David]

Yes, but doesn't Izzo want to coach?

You don't coach in the NBA.

[chase]

In the NBA, its the players who get all of the glory and adoration... in college its the coaches that everyone loves... izzo is a god here in east lansing and he is treated like royalty- if he goes to the NBA hes not going to get the respect he deserves because people dont give a crap about the coaches in the NBA, college is better than the pros anyways- and if he does it for the money thats dumb because he already makes more than enough her at MSU

[Intrpdtrvlr]

That important part of that story is that he's going strong after Jamil Wilson.

Right on.

[Jon Kerr]

I agree with one of the posters who said Izzo's values are aligned with MSU, which supports the argument he will stay. But over the years, I think Tom has had to work harder and harder to sustain success, which is always more difficult than building it. With every passing year, conference championships and long runs in the NCAA tournament are expected. This engenders a sense of entitlement amongst alumni and fans, whose own sense of collegiate identity is wrapped up in the success of the basketball program. And when expectations aren't met, the minions get restless. I don't think he'll take the Bulls job, I don't think it will be offered. But one of these offseasons he might just say yes.

[rook34]

I agree with Jon, I don't think the Bulls will offer Izzo the gig. The Bulls are a flagship franchise-they will get an experienced NBA coach, probably Rick Carlisle, who has already interviewed once.

That said, I think it is inevitable that Izzo leaves for the NBA one of these years, maybe after one last great run with the Spartans. There isn't this much smoke without some fire. When K turned down the Lakers job, that was the end of rumors regarding his possible departure. This has been going on with Izzo for the better part of 10 years. There has to be some mutual interest.

That said, I think if the Bulls gig came up NEXT year, after the possiblity of taking State to a Final Four at Ford Field, he may indeed jump.

Somebody better keep Gregory on line 1.

[Jon Kerr]

I agree with one of the posters who said Izzo's values are aligned with MSU, which supports the argument he will stay. But over the years, I think Tom has had to work harder and harder to sustain success, which is always more difficult than building it. With every passing year, conference championships and long runs in the NCAA tournament are expected. This engenders a sense of entitlement amongst alumni and fans, whose own sense of collegiate identity is wrapped up in the success of the basketball program. And when expectations aren't met, the minions get restless. I don't think he'll take the Bulls job, I don't think it will be offered. But one of these offseasons he might just say yes.

[bubba]

izzo has not had great success since 2000, and has looked burned put. Given his recent recruiting success, I thought maybe he was reenergized and ready to make another run to solidify his position as a legendary coach, but maybe he will sucumb to the money of the NBA. Talk to Mooch, how happy would this guy be if he stayed with Cal! USC would never have happened and Mooch would have a couple national championships. He would also be respected today rather than be a pathetic figure who is obviously bitter about being screwed by prima donnas like TO. If Izzo wants to be a bitch for some degenerates like Kobe Bryant, then get fired because they hate his guts, then he should definately go to the NBA!

[Hey. Don't Step on the 'S'! (aka Cmoney)]

Well this happend every year..get over it. He is not going to the Bulls.

That said, I bet Izzo goes NBA in 2/3 years when he has another NC (before Roe leaves) and the Pistons need a new coach with a young team - mark my words.

[Hey. Don't Step on the 'S'! (aka Cmoney)]

Also...I don’t think Izzo will do that well in the NBA (no disrespect). I mean can you see him in a “fiery” timeout yelling at say Ben Wallace or some other NBA player when they didn’t play D? It’s just a different kind of coaching.

[B Knapp]

Izzo is unlikely to go anywhere. He doesn't need the cash ($7 Million in 2006?), his kids like the schools, he's too stubborn not to help coerce the MSU program into a Top Tier school.

It's funny how Izzo gets linked to these stories. As a journalist I shun at the number of times my colleagues say: Sources Say, or Some Say. Unless it's something specific, it shouldn't be done. Wetzel is a Detroit sports writer who works for yahoo -- I don't know if he has actual sources or if he has an agenda (UM fan anyone?), but I do know he is a writer trying to fill space or make a mark. It looks like he succeeded with our fans. Imagine all the web impressions his story got just from us.

I live in Oklahoma City now, and down here I heard the sports radio guys do something similar. They mentioned Izzo for the OSU job. I laughed my butt off. But they were serious. One guy even gave it a 20% chance it would happen.

Point being -- there are a lot of voices out there with a lot to say. So you have to take everything said with a grain of salt.

Here's the Izzo cash story I alluded to above (I'll take one grain with this one):
http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/category/mlb-rumors/2007/03/08/tom-izzo-made-more-than-7-million-in-2006/

[B Knapp]

In the above comment, I meant "shudder" at stories, not shun. Though sometimes I do that too.

[Chris Cohoon]

1. Tom likes to fish
2. Sorry Sparty but wouldn't you be restless in E. Lansing after 13 years.
3. Yes, Izzo should move on but this isn't the time or place. His talk of State being a perennial power is just that, talk if he has no successor in place.

[Psyc]

We have one of the best college basketball coaches in the country, period!! This is why he gets other offers and is involved in every rumor! This goes hand in hand with our tremendous expectations of the program. I agree this could also be a recruiting tactic. The writer probably went to Ohio State.

I say pay him enough to insure he never leaves! I will gladly increase my annual donation to help this effort! Coach Izzo embodies everything that is right with college hoops and MSU, we need him in E.L.

[Ruth in Tucson]

I totally agree with Psych...we make take issue from time to time with Coach Izzo, but he has put together a CLEAN, TEAM-oriented program at MSU - we won't know how lucky we are until he leaves us. So, if negative blogs are part of your sense of looking over the fence Tom (if you are), please don't ignore the postive ones!

[Dave in Evanston]

The talk here in Chicago is that it's a power play by Izzo to get more money out of MSU. They've speculated that on talk radio and also in an article in this morning's Tribune (http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/basketball/bulls/cs-080423-chicago-bulls-coach-carlisle-izzo,1,473682.story)

[rob]

Tom Izzo was just interviewed on WJR in Detroit this morning and said while he was flattered, he already has a job at the best place there is, MSU.

[Ashley]

The Chicago Bulls , as a professional team of NBA, is one of the major teams that has fans all around the world. It is quite normal if Chicago Bulls tickets are so pricy or hard to find because such great teams tickets worth any price. It doesn’t matter if we pay a respected price for Bulls tickets because we satisfy our eagerness to watch good games and more than that when we go to watch a game it’s because we love this team and we shouldn’t be mean.