Tom Izzo reacts after Michigan State's 75-70 loss to Penn State, Feb. 4, 2020 in East Lansing. Detroit Free Press
EAST LANSING — When Mark Dantonio speaks with Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo, he often describes football as a game of inches.
For the Spartans on the evening of Dantonio’s retirement, the clash against No. 20 Penn State came down to what Izzo described as inches on the court.
“That’s the difference,” Izzo said. “It’s a missed free throw, missed layup and turnover because you didn’t do what you were supposed to do.