Louisville Head Coach Shares Story on Tom Izzo and Michigan State Basketball

On Friday, Michigan State basketball held their final practice before taking on Louisville at 2:45 p.m. EST on Saturday. With the Spartans still at their NCAA Regional breakouts, they were one of four teams to take the KeyBank Center basketball court on Friday for practice. After the practices, coaches and players were made available to the media.

During the press conference, Louisville head coach Pat Kelsey was asked about the first time he met Tom Izzo, and his first interaction with the Hall of Fame coach.

Kelsey revealed it came during his time as an assistant coach with Wake Forest in 2003, and showed tons of praise for both the coach and program. He gushed about the unity, organization, and modern approach of the staff back then, along with how Izzo had the respect of the program.

“My first interaction with Coach Tom Izzo was really early in my career, he would never remember this, I was an assistant at Wake Forest in 2003,” Kelsey said. “MSU was a pioneer of new technology and the digital era for video. An assistant told me how forward-thinking coach is. They invited me up there, and it was like NASA, Apple, or IBM. It was so buttoned up, so meticulous. When Izzo came in, people were scrambling. It was, ‘here comes coach!’”

Tom Izzo took time to personally meet Kelsey

The then-27-year-old assistant got time to speak with the Spartan coach, too. Izzo took interest in being personable with Pat Kelsey, and he is excited to get the chance to meet Tom Izzo as equals at center court before tomorrow’s matchup.

“He was such a class-act,” Kelsey expressed. “He took the time to talk to me, ask me about my career, what my aspirations were. I feel like I wanted to salute him at points. I can’t wait to shake his hand before the game.”

Throughout the press conference, Kelsey expressed admiration for the Spartan program, discussing their hustle, and how the Spartans are good at what they do.

Izzo shares his side of the story

Michigan State basketball was the next school to go during media availability, and Tom Izzo was asked about this moment by Spartan Shadows.

Coach Izzo, contrary to Pat Kelsey’s belief, did remember the interaction.

“I do remember meeting Pat back then,” Izzo revealed. “I was big on the video back then, I did talk to Pat back then and didn’t know him as well and everything, but boy, he sure has taken off in his career.”

Izzo expressed the difficulty of taking over a Louisville program in trouble after multiple years of issues, and expressed admiration.

“I said, that’s not a great job,” Izzo said of the Cardinals at the time Kelsey took over. “He’s got energy and enthusiasm. I like that about him, and, you know, he’s got a lot of years ahead of that incredible career.”

The three-seeded Spartans will take on the six-seed Cardinals at approximately 2:45 p.m. EST tomorrow, pending how long the preceding Michigan vs. St. Louis matchup takes.