What former Michigan State center Paul Davis said "ticked me off," Izzo admitted to reporters after his team's blowout victory over USC on Monday night.
It isn’t just current Michigan State players who have to live in fear of a Tom Izzo tongue lashing or withering glare.
On Monday night, Izzo unloaded on a former player who last suited up for the Spartans nearly two decades ago.
With just over six minutes left in Michigan State’s 80-51 rout of USC, Spartans forward Jaxon Kohler chased down Jerry Easter II from behind to prevent a transition layup but the officials assessed a foul on the play. Among the many Michigan State supporters who voiced their disagreement with the call was former center Paul Davis, who played for the Spartans from 2002-06 and averaged 17.5 points and 9.1 rebounds as a senior.
Video footage from the Fox Sports telecast captured Davis standing up and shouting something at referee Jeffrey Anderson from his courtside seat across the floor from the Michigan State bench. Anderson responded by immediately blowing his whistle, stopping play and pointing directly at Davis.
Odd moment in Michigan State-USC. After being consulted by the referee, it appears Tom Izzo asks former Spartan, Paul Davis, to leave his seat. pic.twitter.com/rix9qIyEnd
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) January 6, 2026
After Anderson approached Izzo and appeared to explain what happened, the Michigan State legend did not look pleased. Arms outstretched, Izzo shouted across the court in the direction of Davis, “What the f*** are you doing?” Moments later, when Davis was slow to leave his seat after someone came to escort him out, Izzo gestured at him once more and screamed, “Get outta here!”
When asked during his postgame news conference what Davis said to get ejected, Izzo gave a partial answer.
“What he said, he should never say anywhere in the world,” Izzo told reporters. “That ticked me off. So just because it’s 25 — 20 years later, I’m going to have to call him tomorrow and tell him what I thought of it. And you know what he’ll say? I screwed up, coach. I’m sorry.”
Without prompting, Izzo later clarified, “It wasn’t something racial. It wasn’t something sexual.”
“It was just the wrong thing to say and I’ll leave it at that,” Izzo added.
A McDonald’s All-American and Michigan Mr. Basketball in 2002, Davis arrived at Michigan State with considerable hype. He spent four years playing for the Spartans, helping guide them to a Final Four as a junior and to 22 wins as a senior.
During his postgame news conference, Izzo described Davis as one of his “favorite guys” and praised how often the former center comes back to support the Spartans.
“I need Paul Davis here,” Izzo concluded. “Paul Davis is a very important part of this program.”
Category: General Sports
