Brent Yarina, BTN.com Senior Editor, March 7, 2015
It's been a struggle for Michigan State at the free-throw line this year.
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The Spartans entered Saturday's game at Indiana shooting 62.9 percent as a team from the charity stripe. They went 11-of-20 (55 percent) in the wild 74-72 road win, which lowered the season total to 62.7 percent.
Funny thing is, Tom Izzo wanted them to go 10-of-20, as he told Marvin Clark Jr. to miss a free throw with 0.7 seconds left and the Spartans leading by one.
Clark hit the shot, and Izzo's reaction was priceless, getting down on both knees and resting his arms on the scorer's table.
You see, Izzo wanted his freshman to miss because it's a lot harder for the opponent to get a look at a potential game-winning shot off a missed free throw, assuming it gets the rebound, than it is off an inbound pass following a made free throw.
As it played out, Indiana got a pretty good look on its last-second attempt, but it fell well short.
Izzo's reaction to the free throw was pretty great in the postgame press conference, as well.
If you liked Tom Izzo's reaction to Marvin Clark Jr.'s free throw, you'll love this soundbite. #MarchOnBTN http://t.co/jiw2Dkhpgo
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) March 7, 2015
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Izzo also had some interesting takes on Tom Crean, one of his former assistants, and the Hoosiers following Saturday's win.
Among other things, Izzo said, "He helped me build my program. My program wouldn't be as good as it is if it wasn't for Tom Crean. I mean that, I really do."
Watch his full comments on the Hoosiers coach below.
"Sooner or later, the players got to have some of the onus on them, too." Tom Izzo, on Tom Crean and #Hoosiers http://t.co/4jzL7OoRJs
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) March 7, 2015
