Izzo gets playbook pointers from Saunders

By: Sean Ely Posted: 03/24/08 6:51pm

When you have the best college basketball program in the state, you might happen to borrow some advice from the best pro basketball team in the state.

And that’s what MSU men’s basketball head coach Tom Izzo does, on occasion, from Pistons’ coach Flip Saunders.

At his weekly news conference on Monday, Izzo said he’s had the chance to discuss expanding MSU’s playbook with Saunders — not just adding more in quantity, but boosting the quality of current plays by opening up more options when an opponent takes away a certain component.

“I think that has helped us in building our playbook,” Izzo said.

But there is one ex-Pistons trait that Izzo wants certain members of his team to stray away from — fouling on unnecessary shots down low, especially to keep guys such as sophomore forward Raymar Morgan on the floor and off the bench.

“I can’t afford him to take a swipe like in the Bad Boys’ days where you don’t give up a layup,” Izzo said. “He’s gotta give up a layup.”

And although Memphis is known for poor free-throw shooting, Izzo doesn’t want to rely on fouling, simply to take away some type of rhythm.

After all, it could end up turning around and biting MSU in the rear — such as Morgan, junior center Goran Suton or senior center Drew Naymick getting into foul trouble rather than normal bench players.

“I’d rather still contain them,” Izzo said. “Our defense has been at its best.”