Tom Izzo tells Michigan State player he ‘can’t guard my mother’ in Oregon win

Tom Izzo didn’t mince words during a huddle in Michigan’s State’s game against Oregon, telling guard Kur Teng, “Kur, you can’t guard my mother. My mother.”

Izzo is certainly known for demanding more of his team through direct and sometimes fiery confrontation with his players. In a 68-52 win against Oregon on Jan. 20, Izzo pointed out his frustration with Teng’s defense saying that he couldn’t guard his 99-year-old mother.

After the game, Izzo said he wasn’t joking about his comments to Teng and he hoped it would incite anger in Teng that could motivate him to be better on the defensive end.

“I’m hoping that it ticks him off and maybe he’ll play better angry because some of it was ‘unstomachable,’” said Izzo.

“We’re all flying back to East Lansing, he’s flying to Appleton. Check USA Today tomorrow, him and my mom will be going at it in a nursing home, in a gym and we’ll see how he does.”