> At a Glance
> – Tom Izzo supported the ejection of Paul Davis during Monday’s 80-51 win over USC
> – Davis, a 2005 Final Four hero, was tossed after yelling at officials with six minutes left
> – Izzo plans to call Davis and treat the outburst like he would coach his own children
> – Why it matters: The episode shows Izzo’s zero-tolerance policy for bench decorum-even for beloved alumni
Michigan State’s Tom Izzo notched career win No. 750 on Monday night, but the post-game spotlight focused on a courtside commotion that saw former Spartan Paul Davis escorted from the Breslin Center.
The Ejection
Midway through the second half of a 29-point blowout, Davis-seated across from the Spartan bench-drew officials’ ire. Referees stopped play and ordered the 41-year-old ex-forward to leave immediately.
> Izzo told reporters:
>
> “What he said-he should never say anywhere in the world. That ticked me off.”
Coach’s Reaction
Izzo sprinted toward the stands, shouting:
> “What the f— are you doing? What are you doing?”
After talking with officials, Izzo sided completely with the call:
- “He kind of got after the official and he was 150% wrong.”
- “For a guy like me to 150% agree with the official, it’s almost illegal.”
What Was Said
Izzo refused to repeat the remark, only clarifying:
- It was not racial
- It was not sexual
- It was simply “the wrong thing to say”
What’s Next
Despite the embarrassment, Izzo wants Davis back:
> “I need Paul Davis here.”
>
> “I’m going to tell him he was wrong like I would my son, like I would my daughter, like I would my player.”
He expects a quick apology: “I screwed up, Coach. Sorry.”
Key Takeaways
- Win No. 750 moves Izzo into eighth place among active Division I coaches
- Davis, a fan favorite, must now rebuild rapport with the program
- Izzo used the incident as another teaching moment
The Spartans improve while Izzo proves-even alumni aren’t above the program’s standards.
