“I woke up this morning, and I read an article that I really enjoyed,” the MSU men’s basketball head coach said at his weekly press conference.

“After all the controversy that we’ve been through this year, I looked back on the year and I was able to address my team with what we’ve got to do.

“I realized that everything we did was good, and I don’t regret one iota of it. And I think it was the best I felt in a year.”

Izzo said he reflected on the numerous instances of benching players and other team issues the Spartans have faced this year.

In the end, he said, reading about the troubles the former NBA All-Star has faced and considering other outside issues made him appreciate the bond he has with his players and the effect their relationships have on one another.

“If you care about somebody, you’re willing to do things that are unpopular and maybe against the norm, and that’s how I felt,” Izzo said.

“Part of it’s made me a better coach. Part of it’s made me reflect back and understand what my job is, and part of it’s going to make us a better team.”

Tale of three teams

Izzo said he and his staff have begun to look at film on New Mexico State and he said it’s difficult to get a read on MSU’s first-round opponent and its best players.

“(Troy Gillenwater and Wendell McKines) — one played in one third and the other played in half of the season for them,” Izzo said. “They’re two of their four best players, so some of their losses early that were a little lopsided were without two of their best players.”

Neither of the two forwards played a full season for the Aggies because of academic ineligibility issues, leaving New Mexico State without a consistent look this year. Izzo said it’s difficult to gauge which team will show up in Spokane, Wash., on Friday — the one that lost, 100-68, to UCLA and Saint Mary’s or the hot team that won the WAC Conference Tournament as a No. 3 seed.

Gillenwater and McKines average a combined 25.2 points per game, although neither takes too many 3-pointers, one of the Aggies’ strong suits.

New Mexico State has shot 37 percent from long distance this season and averaged 8.5 3-pointers per game, a statistic Izzo said concerns him as the higher seed in an oft-trendy 5-seed versus 12-seed upset pick.

“It’s a concern because, at times, the 3-point shot is what makes the difference between upsets and not upsets,” Izzo said.

Reaction to firing

With Iowa head coach Todd Lickliter being fired after three seasons on Monday afternoon, Izzo was noticeably shocked standing at the podium.

“I feel sorry for some of these guys as I did (former Michigan coach) Tommy Amaker, as I did (former Minnesota coach) Dan Monson, as I do (Indiana head coach) Tom Crean a little bit,” Izzo said.

“Guys that take over programs that have been decimated with crap, that right now would be where I would change my opinion of telling a friend to take a certain job.

“I’m not going to say anything insulting about anybody’s administration, but that is not because of lack of work, lack of effort or cheating. … That’s disgusting to our profession, unless there’s something that I don’t know that he did wrong, meaning scandalistically — and I’m 99 percent sure that isn’t true.”