Coach Tom Izzo drew a very specific comparison during a Michigan State timeout, telling one of his players the he couldn't guard his 99-year-old mom.
Jan. 21 (UPI) -- Coach Tom Izzo drew a very specific comparison during a Michigan State timeout, telling one of his players the he couldn't guard the mentor's 99-year-old mother, Dorothy.
Izzo landed the jab as the Spartans huddled for a timeout in the first half of a 68-52 win over the Oregon Ducks on Tuesday in Eugene, Ore. He pointed the slight at sophomore guard Kur Teng.
"Kur, you can't guard my mother," Izzo said during the sequence, which was filmed by Fox Sports.
Izzo also tried to bolster the Spartans' offense during the timeout. Michigan State Spartans outshot Oregon 57.1% to 39.2% en route to its fifth consecutive victory. The game had seven lead changes and was tied three times.
The Spartans held advantages of 30-20 in points in the paint, 10-2 in fast break points and 8-7 in second-chance points.
"Kur you can't guard my mother. My mother!"
Inside the @MSU_Basketball huddle with Tom Izzo. pic.twitter.com/HETzQFA8UX— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) January 21, 2026
Teng did not attempt a shot, but recorded two fouls and a turnover in eight minutes of action. The 6-foot-5 sophomore played about four minutes in each half.
Senior center Cooper Carson scored a game-high 19 points. Junior forward Coen Carr and redshirt sophomore guard Jeremy Fears Jr. chipped in 15 and 14 points, respectively.
Senior guard Takai Simpkins led the Ducks with 15 points and seven rebounds.
Izzo, who is in his 31st season at Michigan State, told reporters at his postgame news conference that he was unhappy with the Spartans' leadership during the game. He criticized their ball movement and turnovers, but said they played good defense overall.
He was also asked if his mother had basketball skills.
"No, that's the sad part, she doesn't have game, and he [Teng] still couldn't guard her," Izzo said.
Izzo also claimed he was "as serious as a jaybird," when asked if he was joking. He said he hoped the jab angered Teng and forced him to play better.
"We are all flying back to East Lansing, Mich.," Izzo said. "He's flying to Appleton, Wis. Check USA Today tomorrow. Him and my mom will be going at it in a nursing home gym and we'll see how [Teng] does."
With Tuesday's win, Izzo pushed his career victory total to 754, which ranks No. 22 in Division I history. He sits five wins behind former Western Kentucky coach E.A. Diddle.
He is just three wins shy of his 25th 20-win season with the Spartans.
Izzo's No. 10 Spartans (17-2, 7-1 Big Ten) will host the Maryland Terrapins (8-10, 1-6 Big Ten) at noon EST Saturday in East Lansing, Mich. The Ducks (8-11, 1-7 Big Ten) will take on the Washington Huskies (10-8, 2-5 Big Ten) at 3 p.m. Sunday in Seattle.
Category: General Sports
