Post-Game Quotes: Boston College

Nov. 26, 2015

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Coach Tom Izzo, Michigan State- "I'm not sure there could be a better time for this. Number one, I love my team and they're a great bunch of guys. It's Thanksgiving, you're supposed to give thanks to so many people. I got Drew Neitzel here on radio who was part of win 300. I got Draymond Green who is here who flew in here from Phoenix just to be with the guys. He was here for my 400th win and watched me here for my 500th win. Mike Krzyzewski is not at home shaking but in some ways I got it better than anybody because of the players I got and the players that come back that make this the most special part of this job. We played really well at times. Denzel played really unbelievable, the rest of the guys had their moments of goodness, and moments were they weren't as good. I have to give Boston College credit, I told the bench earlier that we were shocked that we won by this amount. Boston College is really young and they're going to be really good. Jimmy (Christian) is a helluva coach, my former assistant Stan Heath is there. Their kid Eli Carter made some big shots and I think it was our depth that wore them down. As it is Thanksgiving, I'm thankful for the guys I've got and the guys that I've had, all the people who have helped me have this special moment. I'm only 523 games behind Mike Krzyzewski."

On Boston College Coach Jimmy Christian calling them the best team in the country- "Jimmy was down at TCU and moved north so he must have frost-bite or something. We're playing good right now, and I told my guys we'll see how we handle that early success right now. Now we're going from hunting to being hunted. Teams are going to be giving us their best game. What impresses me, is that I believe we still have a higher ceiling that we can reach. Matt (Costello) had some great touches on the floor, Bryn (Ford) is one of the best shooters in the country. Tum-Tum (Nairns Jr). is one of the best guys in the country. I'm not going to call him a shooter yet but it's coaching that will make him become a better shooter. It's great to be around guys who like each other. I bet if you ask each guy on this team, they will you something great about one of their teammates. It's not the norm, and this is a special group of players. We'll see how we move forward and it's only going to get tougher."

On coming Denzel Valentine to Draymond (Green)- "He was skinnier now than when Draymond was here. They're similar players in these respects: unselfishness, winning more than focusing on individual stats, they're both great leaders. He's focusing on one more stage of leadership which is grabbing his best friend Tum-Tum (Nairns Jr.) and second best friend Matt (Costello). He leads by example and he is encouraging but he also puts the hammer down. He's got a lot of great qualities because he is multi-dimensional. He's a little different than Draymond because he's a guard and Draymond was a forward. I called him on my report a "poor, poor, poor man's Magic" back then and last year he was like a "poor, poor" man's Draymond, but he's getting better and sometime in the future he can tell some kid that they're a poor man's Denzel. I like that last week, Magic Johnson came in and wanted to talk to him. Draymond is here and always talking to him. These are all the qualities of a great basketball program. Denzel's dad played here, and some people say that they were born with Spartan basketball in their crib, but he was conceived with Spartan basketball in him.

On what Guy Lewis meant to the sport - "I got to know Guy a little bit because I know a guy in Michigan who played for him. I remember watching the game when UCLA played Houston. I remember the "Slamma Jamma" and what he did with that group was incredible. He was a funny guy, and I did some things at ABC with him. I think the basketball community lost a great coach and a better guy. I wish I would've known him a little better. He did a helluva job for the sport and hopefully he enjoys his new seat up in heaven."

Michigan State Senior Guard, Denzel Valentine on his performance- "It's a credit to my teammates. They did a great job making shots and making plays on defense. Tum-Tum (Nairns Jr.) did a great job making his shots. He's been working on his jump shot all summer, waking up at 6:30 AM every morning. Matt (Costello) and Bryn (Forbes) improved this season, so credit to those guys. I just played my game and didn't worry about anything."

On having fun- "The guys on my team did a great job finding me with the ball. We were running pretty good and our wings did a great job on the court. Draymond (Green) being here is really special to me because I look up a guy look at him. When he's in the gym, I have to play well. I was really focused today and wanted to play well, along my teammates. I'm really happy Draymond Green was here for Coach (Izzo)'s 500th win and it was a special day.

On his triple-double- "Coach Izzo and Coach DJ told me that if I try to force the triple-double that it wouldn't happen. Coach brought me to my side and was on me during the second half and told me that it would happen and I deserved it. I just started playing and the next thing you know, it happened. Next time, if I'm close to a triple-double again I'll just keep playing and not worry about anything else.

Michigan State Sophomore Guard, Tum-Tum Nairns Jr. on making shots- "I was wide open and I have to give credit to my teammates for having the confidence to pass the ball to me and I was comfortable making shots.

Michigan State Senior Guards/Forwards Bryn Ford, Matt Costello, and Denzel Valentine on being on the court for Tom Izzo's 500th win

Bryn- "It was a special thing to be a part of. It's my second year being here and to be a part of this is legendary. I'm just happy to have been a part of it."

Denzel; "It was really special to me because I have been close to Coach Izzo all my life and I've seen all his landmarks and all that he has done. To be a part of this historical landmark is huge for me. Not only did he get his 500th win, but I was a part of that moment in Michigan State's history. We're just going to keep rolling and try to get him more wins."

Matt "I remember watching after the Minnesota game, when he got his 400th win the players storming the floor. I told myself I have to be a part of his 500th win. I've been looking forward to this for a while.

Michigan State Senior Forward, Matt Costello on the team's performance and his game today- "I think we've done much better in terms of being consistent all around. We lacked a little bit on defense today, but we were clicking all cylinders on our offense display. In the post, it's something we've been working on all summer. These guys have seen me work and have confidence in me to throw me the ball down there. I think that this just helps our offensive game when people have to guard our shooters in Bryn and Tum-Tum.

Coach Jim Christian, Boston College Opening Statement- "First and foremost, that's a tremendous accomplishment by Coach Izzo. Phenomenal job for years and can't have any more respect for his program. In terms of the game, we thought when we cut it to ten points we'd find ourselves in a good rhythm, but they turned it onto another gear and we didn't respond very well to that. Take your hat off to them, they are a phenomenal team that played with unbelievable pace and moved the ball extremely well. They are very unselfish and their assist numbers are staggering. Give them all credit."

On playing Denzel Valentine- He's phenomenal. When your best player plays that way, its contagious. The beautiful thing about the way they play is that they have no bad possessions. They understand what they are trying to get and they're very unselfish and patient enough to get a great shot. When their post players play well, they are a lot to handle."

On Michigan State's offense - "They are very unselfish and they make the extra play. They don't have any bad possession or take any selfish shots; they play the right way every possession. They've got guys who can score. When "Tum Tum" came in and gave them a different dynamic tonight that hurt us, especially in the first half. He proved that he was capable of knocking down the three pointer."

On moving forward- "It's just a learning experience for us. We play another great NCAA tournament team tomorrow so you don't have time to feel sorry for yourself. We have to go back to the hotel tell and bring it tomorrow. It's four games into the year, so its hard to read to much into anything.

On expectations playing Michigan State - "I thought they played really well tonight. I knew they'd be very good and if there is a better team in the country, I haven't seen them play. I think they are the best team in the country."

Players Mentioned

Matt Costello

Denzel Valentine

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