Overheard in Michigan State’s locker room: Atrocious on boards and boneheaded mistakes

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February 14, 2026

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Overheard in Michigan State’s locker room: Atrocious on boards and boneheaded mistakes

MADISON, Wis. – Another road loss, another court storming.

For the second time in a little more than a week, Michigan State got thumped on the road and had to exit the floor among a sea of opposing fans.

The No. 10 Spartans (20-5, 10-4 Big Ten) dug a big hole in the first half of a 92-71 loss at Wisconsin (18-7, 10-4) on Friday night at the Kohl Center.

Here are notable quotes from coach Tom Izzo and players following the defeat:

Izzo on Michigan State’s first loss by at least 20 points since an 86-60 defeat at Iowa on Feb. 22, 2022: “That was good old-fashioned ass kicking to be honest with you.”

Jeremy Fears on never having a lead in the game and trailing most of the night by double digits: “They made us pay for everything.”

Izzo on the Spartans not being able to knock down open looks: “Early on we missed some good shots and then it just kind of snowballed.”

Coen Carr on Wisconsin, which hit its first five 3-point attempts of the game: “They hit shots. They hit a lot of tough shots, they hit open shots – every shot they needed to make they made. We can’t keep getting down like that in the game in the first half.”

Izzo on the Wisconsin backcourt of Nick Boyd and John Blackwell combining for 53 points and nine 3-pointers: “Two good guards and their two good guards outplayed our two good guards.”

Jaxon Kohler on the Spartans giving up 92 points: “We just weren’t able to get a defensive stop and a spark.”

Izzo on Michigan State giving up 15 3-pointers to Wisconsin, including 10 in the first half: “I think our defense let us down tonight and a lot of that might be on the coverages that I’ve got to take blame for and look at and figure out a better way with personnel I have to cover those.”

Jordan Scott on the Spartans going scoreless for more than five minutes midway through the first half then going the final 4:56 of the half without a field goal: “I think offensively we definitely just got to be more consistent with our shooting.”

Izzo on finishing even with Wisconsin with 38 total rebounds but the Spartans were outscored 19-8 on second-chance points: “Our rebounding was atrocious.”

Izzo on Wisconsin’s hot shooting from outside: “For the most part, that’s what they’ve done but tonight they made them at an incredible level. … That’s not normal.”

Kohler on Michigan State’s third loss in four games: “It’s all about how we respond now at this point.”

Izzo on errors made after a quick Michigan State run cut the deficit to nine in the first half: “We made some boneheaded mistakes that that part the coach isn’t taking one iota of blame for.”

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