Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo had to be restrained by his own players during the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday as he eviscerated a 19-year-old freshman during a timeout.
The second-seeded Spartans were actually on a 10-0 en route to a 76-65 victory over the upstart Bradley Braves at the time of Izzo's eruption. But despite his team's good fortune on the court, the Hall of Fame coach still became enraged by guard Aaron Henry, whose effort was not up to Izzo's standards
'Aaron Henry, trust me, did some things that you can't do as a starter on a top-5 team at the end of your freshman year,' Izzo told reporters, as quoted by the Detroit Free Press. 'And they were effort-related.'
SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO
Michigan State coach Tom Izzo had to be restrained by his own players during the first round of the NCAA Tournament as he eviscerated a 19-year-old freshman Aaron Henry (right)
Immediately after the time out was whistled, Izzo charged onto the court and tapped Henry (far right) in the stomach before jabbing his finger in the 6foot6 guard's face. Guard Cassius Winston (No. 5 on the right) attempted to intervene and appeared to calm down Izzo somewhat
But after the players huddled up around Izzo moments later, the coach became enraged with Henry all over, only this time it took several players to contain him. As many as four players pulled Izzo back as he jumped out of his chair in Henry's direction
Immediately after the time out was whistled, Izzo charged onto the court and tapped Henry in the stomach before jabbing his finger in the 6foot6 guard's face.
Guard Cassius Winston attempted to intervene and appeared to calm down Izzo somewhat.
But after the players huddled up around Izzo moments later, the coach became enraged with Henry all over, only this time it took several players to contain him.
As many as four players pulled Izzo back as he jumped out of his chair in Henry's direction.
When asked about it afterwards, Izzo tried to relate to the reporters at his press conference.
Izzo, who is usually animated, did not think he crossed a line with his criticism of Henry
'I get a kick out of you guys, get after somebody because you are trying to hold them
