'Ornery' Izzo wants Miles Bridges to be more of a 'jerk' for Spartans
WASHINGTON – Miles Bridges was asked what he expects Sunday.
His answer?
“What’s Sunday?”
That would be the NCAA tournament selection show.
Why should Bridges know, though? For as talented as he is, he’s never experienced March Madness. He’s a freshman. And that’s part of the disconnect Michigan State coach Tom Izzo hopes his talented forward and his classmates can change in short order.
“Miles has gotta become a better leader with those freshmen,” Izzo said after Friday’s 63-58 loss to Minnesota ousted MSU from the Big Ten tournament.
Sunday’s selection show (5:30 p.m./CBS) is not just a first for Bridges, but also for fellow freshmen Nick Ward, Joshua Langford and Cassius Winston. That quartet will need to carry the Spartans (19-14), as they have all season – with the next loss being their last loss this season.
Izzo isn’t sure if they understand yet about playing with finality at stake.
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“They’ll learn when they lose games, if it hurts you enough, you’re gonna react differently. That’s why coaches react a little more ornery than players do,” Izzo said. “Those same guys are used to playing another game all the time. The next time it happens, the sneakers get put away, they do not get to use them again this year. That’s what I’m gonna emphasize.”
Bridges had 35 points and 16 rebounds in two Big Ten Tournament games. He made 6 of 11 shots in Thursday’s win over Penn State and just 7 of 20 in the loss to Minnesota. He had five assists to two turnovers in D.C., but he and his fellow rookies all had their share of defensive struggles against the Gophers.
“We didn’t accomplish anything,” Bridges said, “but we played like we did.”
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That’s the type of tone Izzo wants to hear more from his superstar Bridges, who leads the Spartans with 16.7 points and 8.3 rebounds a game. He said junior captain Tum Tum Nairn can get that way at times, but that type of harsh message tends to resonate more when it comes from a team’s best player.
In other words, Bridges’ coach wants him to be more demanding. Like him. And soon.
“Unbelievable guys. Good guys. But sometimes you need a jerk,” Izzo said. “I guess that’s why I’m here, a full-fledged jerk. But sometimes you do need that on your team. That’s what I’m hoping Miles will turn into a little bit.”
Contact Chris Solari:csolari@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrissolari.