Is Izzo heading to the North Coast ?

[1OSUNUT]

Seems like the talks are heating up between Tom Izzo and Dan Gilbert about him becoming the next coach of the Cavs. I personally think it's a bad hire - but if it keeps LeBron in town they would sign the devil to coach the team. If in fact Izzo leaves for Cleveland - so does MSU basketball. He might be the best coach in college basketball and losing him is something MSU will never recover from - it was great while it lasted.

[Wolvrin704]

Seems like the talks are heating up between Tom Izzo and Dan Gilbert about him becoming the next coach of the Cavs. I personally think it's a bad hire - but if it keeps LeBron in town they would sign the devil to coach the team. If in fact Izzo leaves for Cleveland - so does MSU basketball. He might be the best coach in college basketball and losing him is something MSU will never recover from - it was great while it lasted.

Many thought MSU would never recover from losing Perles. They'll be fine and if it happens they'll find someone elese.

[1OSUNUT]

6 million a year for a unproven Izzo - Gilbert is in desparate mode.

[blueisbetterthanred]

"unproven" Izzo?

You have to be kidding me.

[1OSUNUT]

No I'm not kidding you - has he ever coached in the NBA ? Look at the long list of failed NCAA coaches that have been chewed up by the NBA. The yelling and screaming and football type drills will not cut it in the NBA. Remember you have to coach the team that you have - you cannot recruit. Izzo is a GREAT recruiter and stocks his teams with NBA talent - which makes winning a bit easier. So I will stick by my original statement that Izzo is un-proven and to pay him 6 million a year is insane.

[Wolvrin704]

No I'm not kidding you - has he ever coached in the NBA ? Look at the long list of failed NCAA coaches that have been chewed up by the NBA. The yelling and screaming and football type drills will not cut it in the NBA. Remember you have to coach the team that you have - you cannot recruit. Izzo is a GREAT recruiter and stocks his teams with NBA talent - which makes winning a bit easier. So I will stick by my original statement that Izzo is un-proven and to pay him 6 million a year is insane.

I understand what you're saying and in part I agree, yet I also disagree. Yes there are MANY college coaches that could not hack it. But the fact is most of them were not coaches with a long history of unparalled success. Izzo could just as well be the next Larry Brown as he could be the next Pitino. It all comes down to their ability to adapt to the system and for the players to adapt to the coach. With that said that much money to pay someone who may or may not work out is crazy.

[rickyleach]

come on tommy boy is a yooper he aint going nowhere.

[Wolvrin704]

From everything I'm reading; him not denying rumors, meeting with his players but not affirming that he's staying and taking so long to say he is staying at MSU leads me to conclude that he is seriously considering taking the offer.

[amazinblue]

...me to conclude that he is seriously considering taking the offer.

704,

I agree with you that he's considering the offer or discussion. I've also heard there's one other coach in the running - so, I don't know if an offer has been made OR if they are just in negotiations and Cleveland's trying to make a decision. Regardless, I think Izzo's a fantastic coach at the NCAA level - he gets the maximum from his team and is a tremendous recruiter. I don't know if he'd be as successful at the next level - sort of like Pitino.

One other question - how many of Izzo's players have reached the NBA and "really made it". Now, this isn't a knock against the Spartans or Izzo - but, coaching college players - even very talented ones - is different from coaching NBA players with unreal contracts and their own priorities.

[1OSUNUT]

Rumor is that MSU might offer Izzo a LIFETIME contract and a pay raise to stay. Izzo is in Cleveland today with Gilbert - but you would have to think LeBron would have to stay to have Izzo even consider it.

[Wolvrin704]

Rumor is that MSU might offer Izzo a LIFETIME contract and a pay raise to stay. Izzo is in Cleveland today with Gilbert - but you would have to think LeBron would have to stay to have Izzo even consider it.

I agree. You would think Izzo would probably want a garauntee from Gilbert that they would do everthing possible to retain Lebron. I'm still not convinced he's going but I'm reading more and more that sounds like its a very serious consideration.
A lifetime contract from MSU is really meaningless and costs them nothing. Its not like they would ever fire him anyways barring some huge scandal.

[osusteve]

Not many "name" coaches are available. Byron Scott, Mike Woodson, Mike Van Gundy -- all retreads who probably don't excite LeBron or Gilbert. $6 million for Izzo is crazy given that he has never coached in the NBA.

[1OSUNUT]

Byron Scott is also talking with the Cavs and he is choice #2. The word is with his MSU ties Gilbert wants Izzo. That is a huge risk to take with a guy who never coached NBA players - not even in the Olympics. We are talking 30 million for a college coach - Ouch. What if its teh wrong hire, or LeBron walks, etc. This could be much worse then some of the bad contracts we are sitting on.

[rickyleach]

Big mistake if izzo leaves , after clev doesnt win the championship in his first 2 years , labone will cry and want someone else to coach.

[Wolvrin704]

He's supposed to be deciding today.

[rickyleach]

If he is taking this much time ,izzo is gone and so is michigan state as a bball power.

[rickyleach]

izzo is headed north , to the u p for a vacation , he just turned down cleve