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Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo is speaking out regarding the FBI investigation into a bribery scheme in college basketball that led to the arrest of 10 suspects — including four assistant coaches and an adidas executive — along with costing Louisville’s Rick Pitino his job.
Izzo, who is part of the National Association of Basketball Coaches’ board of directors, called the situation a “black eye” for the sport.
“I don’t think anybody has their arms around it yet or the depth of it or what actually is going on,” Izzo said, via the Detroit Free Press. “It’s hard to do anything or accuse anybody of anything until you really know is going on. Some of these things that they print and write that are already etched in stone, those things aren’t good.
“Why they’re happening, I’ve got my own reasons on some things that have happened. They’re just getting more and more out of control.”
While his program isn’t impacted by the scandal at this time, it’s clear that Izzo still understands the severity of the situation at hand. But in the end, all he hopes is that the college basketball world learns from the embarrassing scandal.
“If this reels us back and makes us re-look at some things and figure out what our summers are like and how we can get things better for both the players and coaches and everyone else, then there’s a benefit for us,” Izzo said. “I wouldn’t say it’s great because of the negativeness of it.
“But we all learn from something that’s hit home, and this has hit home.”
Izzo’s Spartans opened practice for the 2017-18 season on Friday afternoon. Michigan State opens its regular season on Friday, Nov. 10 against North Florida.
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