Michigan State Basketball: What It Means to Be a Senior for Tom Izzo

There are those who play college basketball at other schools for other coaches, and then there are those who play four years of college basketball at Michigan State for Tom Izzo.

Those years will challenge, make, break and reinvent a player. And that’s without even touching on the basketball aspect of the experience.  

“Embrace it. Just embrace it. Embrace, really, everything. Just embrace it, it’s a fun moment,” said Branden Dawson, a 2015 senior.

Welcoming the process with open arms isn’t only the best approach; it’s really the only option. A player either falls in line or he is helped along.

“These guys take you by the shirt and say, 'this is how we do things around here'—no b------t, that’s how things happen,” said Paul Davis, who left Michigan State in 2006 after having been initiated by Adam Ballinger, Adam Wolf, Aloysius Anagonye and Jason Andreas in 2002. He's also had a productive and lengthy pro career across the water. 

Being a senior is more than enjoying the final year of eligibility, it’s about accomplishment. It’s about players being able to say that they survived, endured and ultimately passed what Izzo seniors refer to as arguably the toughest test in collegiate sports.

“To me, it means that you’re mentally tough—you’ve gone through a lot of battles, you’ve dealt with a lot of adversity and you’ve overcome,” said Trice, who battled a life-threatening brain disease as a sophomore. “I mean, there’s some guys that don’t make it, and in the past, some guys have transferred out. Some guys stop playing…”

That wasn’t Trice in the least bit. He was bound and determined to make his presence felt, even if it meant waiting four seasons to do it. Following Dawson’s philosophy, Trice embraced the position and transformed into a true Izzo point guard this year. He’s also touting a team-high average of 14.8 points and 5.2 assists per game into the NCAA tournament. He’ll earn his keep during March Madness.

They all do.

Back on March 4, emotion filled Izzo to the brim.  His Spartans had just scored a 72-66 senior day win over Purdue at the Breslin Center in East Lansing, which was the highlight for him, but he also just watched Trice, Dawson and Keenan Wetzel drop to push-up positions while kissing the Spartans logo at midcourt, a traditional way of saying goodbye—and it’ll be a tradition for as long as Michigan State has a basketball team.

After the victory, Izzo was asked to reflect on those who stick around for the long haul. He paused for a moment, only to remember Nov. 11, 2011, Veteran’s Day. That was the day his team played North Carolina aboard the USS Carl Vinson while floating in the waters just outside of San Diego. The contest ended in a 67-55 loss, but it was a special moment for Izzo. That’s when Trice and Dawson made their big debuts. They’ve been staples ever since.

For Izzo, it was “hard to believe” that time had gone by so quickly.

“I’m looking at the aircraft carrier when we’re in our pregame meal today, big picture on the wall down there and I’m thinking ‘God, those guys played in that’” Izzo said. “And then I’m looking at Branden, thinking about him blowing his knee that first year and missing that whole summer and coming back and playing so well and playing in Germany. There have been some incredible memories. Travis, the sickness that he went through. It’s a hard day, senior day…”

Izzo was then asked about his appreciation of seniors, and about how his commitment to molding a four-year player has shaped his career and solidified Michigan State as a national power. His approach varies, sometimes, he says, depending on the player. Sometimes he gets too close, sometimes he’s not close enough.

But Izzo knows one thing: His seniors respect him. The process has done wonders for Aloysius Anagonye, a 2004 Izzo grad who’s played overseas for the past decade. The same can be said for Chris Hill, a 2005 senior who’s enjoyed abundant success as a pro in Europe. Davis is one of Izzo’s best, and like Anagonye and Hill, he’ll never forget his grueling, “killer” years under Izzo’s wing.

But exactly how, why, when and where does this Izzo effect come together? How do Izzo’s relationships with players evolve over the years? Does he change the way he views and treats them?

“I don’t think it’s any different, maybe it is,” Izzo said while perched at his press podium. “It’d be a good question to ask them…”

OK. Let’s ask.

Branden Dawson (2011-15)

Branden Dawson entered Michigan State as a potential-filled kid with a kid. He’ll leave as a better man and devoted father. The 6’6”, 225-pound forward said he “wouldn’t know where” he’d be if not for Michigan State and Izzo.

“I was young, and, you know, it was quite difficult being a young dad around that time and having to take care of such a huge responsibility,” Dawson said. “The coaches, though, they’ve been there since Day 1, helping me out with my son and me being able to go back home and visit and everything. They’ve been a huge help, just helping me when I come across things that I’m going to have to deal with.”

Three years ago, Dawson contemplated a transfer. He and Izzo had their differences, and at the time, leaving seemed like the best way to remedy the situation. However, it didn’t take long for Dawson to remember the promise he made to his mother—she told him to tough it out, honor his commitment to the Spartans and graduate, which he will in May.

“[The past four years] have shaped me a lot as a person,” Dawson said. “Just having those ups and downs just showed me a lot—made me mature as person, on and off the court. Coach Izzo and our coaching staff have taught me a lot. So you know what to deal with [in life], the obstacles to overcome throughout the ups and downs. They’ve definitely taught me a lot and shaped me into the person I am today.”

Seeing My’Shawn, his son, means everything to Dawson. Other teams may have not been as understanding of his circumstances, but Izzo, who stresses manhood first and ball second, did everything within his power to make sure Dawson saw his loved ones as often as possible.

That showed Izzo’s heart, says Dawson, and it certainly made them closer. But it was actually Dawson’s horrific injury during his freshman year that galvanized the two forever.

“It was after I tore my ACL,” Dawson said. “After that, Coach Izz, he was in tears. He was saying it was his fault and everything. I think that’s when we really clicked after that.”

Izzo’s tearful apology “just showed me that he cared. Coach, you know, he took it hard,” Dawson added.

Playing in the NBA was never Dawson’s top priority, at least not after encountering Izzo. Graduating was always the goal. Fulfilling his promise to his mother, Michigan State and Izzo is worth more than an NBA contract, he said. 

Paul Davis (2002-06)

A member of the 2005 Final Four team, Davis is, without question, the greatest true center to play for Izzo—and possibly at Michigan State, for that matter. The near 7-footer dominated the boards, broke bones, blackened eyes and tore up his knees while in East Lansing.

And he loved every minute of it.

“We killed ourselves for him and he killed us,” said Davis, who remembers “practices” at 5 a.m. on Michigan State’s football field.

“The rest of the school is getting back from the bar, going to sleep and we’re out there…” Davis said with a laugh. “There’s an honor to it.”

Davis could have entered the NBA draft earlier than 2006. At one time, he was viewed as a mid-to-late first-rounder. His stock skyrocketed as a sophomore and junior, and having a pro career was only a matter of time.

But he didn’t leave because “you don’t get those years back.”

No regrets.

“I look at it as it’s an accomplishment,” Davis said. “I was raised to always follow through with whatever you’re committed to. My dad never wanted me to leave early for the NBA. He said ‘you committed this university and should finish it out.’ I could have left and would have gone higher [in the draft], except my senior year. And today, people say, ‘he’s been in college for four years, there’s a reason for that.’ Like he’s no good.

“Now, looking back, I’m glad I stayed. It definitely made me a stronger person, in basketball and off the court—especially being with a guy like coach Izzo. You do everything for the university because the university gives you a lot during that time. I know Michigan State has had a lot of seniors. For me, it’s a special thing. Guys who leave after one year don’t ever understand what that commitment is like. They’ll never ever get it back. I have a lot of respect for guys who stay four years.”

Davis referred to the senior process as a circle. The freshmen shut up and listen to Izzo, says Davis, only to eventually earn more freedom and essentially coach the team. Izzo’s philosophy of player-coached teams has been a major part of his success. The boot camp does more than prepare players for the Big Ten and runs through March Madness, it’s pretty much Tom Izzo’s School of Life.

“Four years, you’re going in a boy and you’re coming out a man,” Davis said. “But definitely, looking back now, you don’t get a prize for it—you don’t get a prize for staying four years, the blood, sweat and tears, not necessarily in that order. I could have maybe had a completely different NBA career if I left, but I’ll take the guy I am today over a better NBA career any day.”

Chris Hill (2001-05)

Izzo’s ability to relate, to truly relate, to his players is uncanny, says Chris Hill, who helped the Spartans to two Final Fours (2001, 2005). The coach has always maintained an open-door policy, and Hill, for better or worse, took full advantage of that access during his time in East Lansing.

One of those meetings left an everlasting impact on Hill, who has played overseas for the past decade. He’ll never forget the conversation he had after an emotionally trying letdown at the line.

“There’s two moments, but probably the one that sticks out the most is my junior year—we lost to Wisconsin, the last game of the season,” he said of the 68-66 loss on March 13, 2004. “We would have won the Big Ten championship. I remember really clearly…I know personally, I had missed a couple of free throws at the end of the game that would have put us up by two.”

After the game, Hill made his way to Izzo’s office. He then knocked on the window. It was midnight, and Izzo, who had been going all day, was watching a replay of the game. Hill sat down next to his coach, and after several minutes of silence, they began to discuss what happened.

“It was really hard to get over that, but he had talked about—the first thing he told me was that he had missed free throws,” said Hill, recalling Izzo’s misses that cost Iron Mountain an Upper Peninsula championship in 1972. “It kind of helped me to accept that it happened and not to take it so personally. It was just as difficult to see a Big Ten championship slip away, but he was there to talk to me.”

Al Anagonye (1999-2003)

Like Hill, Anagonye credits his success in basketball to Izzo and Michigan State. Due to Izzo’s teachings, Anagonye has enjoyed a lengthy pro career with several teams across Europe. He remembers the instructions from Izzo.

As a matter of fact, he never forgot them.

“I always have a formula with every team, the same formula…that was one thing that Coach Izzo talked about,” said Anagonye, a former Detroit DePorres prep star. “Do everything you can to win and do your job. That’s what I learned. Do your job, don’t try to do everyone else’s job. You do that, you lose your job.”

In Europe, coaches get creative. They like to put their athletes through the gauntlet, especially the Americans who flood their leagues. It’s like they’re trying to break them, says Anagonye. It works on some guys, but those guys weren’t coached by Tom Izzo.

“We had three- and four-hour practices at 5 a.m, I’ve been done that,” said Anagonye, recalling a workout with a European coach. “He wanted me to run. ’Oh, you want me to run? I’ll go run. You don’t mind? I’ll go run!’ And we went running. He ran with us. We ran in the morning, it was crazy, after the game—we go for a run in the woods. And he was surprised, he said ‘most Americans would hate this and complain.’ And I was like, ‘No, I’ve done this before. You want to run? Let’s go run.’”

Other players often whined, said Anagonye. That was normal, especially for some players from the United States. Anagonye just laughed.

“At the end, people would always say, ‘Yeah, you played at Michigan State.’ They already knew. They already knew that we’re some tough guys and we can handle a lot of stuff,” he said.

Anagonye signed with Michigan State at the right time. He’ll be the first to admit that. As a freshman, he was led by the Flintstones, who in turn led the Spartans to the 2000 national championship. Despite being a megastar in high school, Anagonye accepted his relief role, all the while taking notes and learning the trade. Mateen Cleaves, Morris Peterson, Charlie Bell—all the “tough guys”—laid out the game plan in full detail.

Cleaves, a senior, really paved the way. Izzo reinforced it.

Going through four years at Michigan State was the right choice for Anagonye, who experienced back-to-back Final Fours (2000, 2001). He had the opportunity to immediately start at the University of Detroit-Mercy, and his father went there too. It would have been a reasonable choice.

However, it was Izzo’s visit after a city clash with the Pershing Doughboys that made all the difference for Anagonye.

“I remember having six dunks that game,” said Anagonye of the win in 1999. Afterward, Izzo darted to the locker room, praising Anagonye’s effort while extending a hearty invitation to East Lansing.

Anagonye accepted.

“Green and white is in my flag and it’s in my blood,” said Anagonye, a native of Nigeria. “It just fit perfectly. When I went up there, Coach Izzo wasn’t just a coach who coached basketball. He builds a family atmosphere.”

The family wasn’t always the guys on the floor. And it wasn’t always just Izzo. At one time, Cleaves’ mother may have been slightly more influential than Izzo, who was five years into the post-Jud Heathcote era. But that’s what made it beautiful, said Anagonye.

“I can remember Mrs. Cleaves—God rest her soul—she was the mother of the team,” he thoughtfully recalled. “People went to her—she was the glue. Mateen, being the player that he was (a special player), but his mom was really the cheerleader, one of the people who got us going with just her presence and her colorful nature. I can always remember that. We always had a family atmosphere. That was one thing that [Izzo] preached, how we were brothers and how it was a special fraternity. To this day, it’s just like that.”

Keenan Wetzel (2011-15)

Four years ago, Wetzel made a huge leap from Valparaiso to Michigan State. He wanted to test himself. Either start, and possibly star, at Valpo, or give it a go with Izzo’s Spartans.

“Well first, you see everything that everyone is seeing on the TV and stuff like that but you don’t know the man, Tom Izzo, yet—you just know what the media knows and what everyone else knows,” Wetzel said of his initial thoughts on the switch. “Once you get to meet him and have a personal relationship, obviously, you know that he’s going to be fiery person—which he certainly is—and passionate about what he does. But you start to, as you get older, you start to realize that he’s so genuine. He can tell you anything [and players listen] because you know it’s for your own good. He’s pushing for you to be as successful as possible.”

A key scout teamer for four years, Wetzel, a former walk-on, has dedicated hours upon hours to improving as a player. He’s done so, and Izzo has rewarded him with playing time and a scholarship. But the most rewarding experience for Wetzel didn’t come on a basketball court—it happened roughly a month ago at NCG Cinema in East Lansing.

That’s when Wetzel, the other Wetzel, debuted his short film “The Cager,” starring former Spartans standout Delvon Roe, in front of his team and an invite-only crowd that included those tied to the program and media.

Later that night, Izzo texted Wetzel: “He said ‘You have probably a one in 1,000 chance of making it as big as you want to make it in the film industry—but that’s a better chance than I had making it here as a head coach,’” Wetzel recalled.

“It was a really inspirational thing. He texted me right after and it really meant a lot. That doesn’t happen at every other place. He certainly is just a mentor a lot of times.”

Spending four years at Michigan State changes a person, says Wetzel. The “tremendous opportunity to grow” was a worthwhile investment.

“I think it shows that you have the toughness to stick around and improve as a person and as a player for four years—I think it’s the toughness. It’s the toughness,” Wetzel said. “That’s as simple as you can put it. Whether that be mental toughness, physical toughness—you learn that. And now taking that into the professional world, I have that. I don’t feel like anyone’s going to throw me off or upset me, or be going to able to knock me down because I was able to stick through four years of tough coaching and tough love. But at the same time, love.”

Travis Trice (2011-15)

Trice wasn’t recruited to be the go-to guy, but he’s playing the role nonetheless. He’s playing it very well, actually. The senior’s drive to lead can be directly attributed to Izzo’s relentless pursuit of everything in life, not just wins and losses.

“I’ve already learned a lot from Coach, but the one thing I’ve really learned—and I’m definitely to take [away from him]—is his approach to things,” Trice said. “He approaches every game, every situation, everything, like it’s a championship.

And he gives a championship effort in everything he does. That’s definitely one thing I not only want to take, but also install in my family and in my kids, is you’ve got to approach everything like it’s your only opportunity and it’s last your chance. That’s one thing he does.”

Two years ago, Trice was unsure if he’d live to see his senior year. A potentially fatal brain disease and rash of concussions nearly ended his collegiate career. Izzo offered to help in any way possible, said Trice. So did the coaching staff.

That’s what family does for one another.

“It was great, the support that I got from not only coach, but the medical staff, my teammates—everybody here, the trainers,” said a thankful Trice. “Because it was one of those things where I felt they really genuinely cared about what was going to happen to me. They were, everyday, they were trying to figure out what else we should do. I mean, Coach was willing to fly me anywhere I needed to go to see a specialist, or to a certain hospital or [to see] a particular doctor. We were open to all of that. I’m really appreciative of it—not only what coach did, but what everybody did.”

Senior day wasn’t easy for Trice. Between the crying, laughing and hugging, he made his way to the floor to perform his rightful duty of kissing the Spartans head at center court.

“It feels like a combination of all four years, all the emotion and four years in one,” Trice said. “It’s a surreal feeling. I mean, you feel great. It’s a mix of emotions. Part of you is excited and happy because now you’re moving onto another stage in your life and another part of you is thinking about all of the good times you’ve had at that place. It’s definitely a mix of emotions.”

Izzo’s Senior Day Story

Izzo doesn’t need a designated day to appreciate those who have given four years to Michigan State, but it just so happens that he shared some heartfelt stories about those who have endured Izzo’s School of Hard Knocks after the March 4 win over Purdue.

Question (above video, 14:15): Going to the early stages of your career, and obviously after 20 years, you’ve been able to forge those relationships with players. Do you look at a senior today differently than you did in 1995-96 (first year as head coach)?

"Yeah I'd say I look at them a little differently, because I realize how, what an impact I do has on their life. Because now I've got a bunch of them who've gone off, some a little feeling different than when they left in certain ways, then a year or two goes by and when they come back, it's so rewarding. So I look at them a little differently now in that respect. I had such an appreciation. Derrick Nix was here a couple weeks ago and man, we talked for hours.

"The one thing I've been the luckiest guy in America on, I've had relationships with 99 percent of my guys, probably 100. A couple that maybe weren't good relationships at the end, but not many. And I think those relationships is what makes senior night so difficult for me. I take a vested interest in their life.

"And that's the one thing I can say that I do, I take a vested interest in their lives. And when you do that, sometimes you get too close to them, and it's hard to get through that. But I wouldn't change it, because every Christmas the calls. I wouldn't change it because every football reunion they're back. I wouldn't change it because today when yeah you struggle a little bit on Sunday, they're still all texting and calling. The greatest part of senior day and what leads to the rest of their life hopefully. And that was part of my pregame speech—do something tonight, it's a memory maker for life.

We all remember what we did last, whether we like it or not. That's going to be a helluva game to tell their grandkids about someday, a helluva game. I just hope [football coach Mark] Dantonio was proud of us."
 

Follow Bleacher Report’s Michigan State Spartans basketball writer Adam Biggers on Twitter @AdamBiggers81.

Unless otherwise noted, all quotes were obtained firsthand by the writer via press conference, press release or other media availability. Special thanks to Paul Davis, Travis Trice, Keenan Wetzel, Chris Hill, Al Anagonye and Branden Dawson—and also to Michigan State SID Matt Larson and the Lansing State Journal's Graham Couch, who saved the day with transcribed Izzo quotes after a (my) recorder malfunction.