Tom Izzo: ‘Hard to focus’ on basketball after allegations

COLLEGE PARK — Michigan State coach Tom Izzo looked exhausted as he slowly walked in to his postgame press conference. His team had rallied from a 13-point halftime deficit for a 74-68 win over Maryland, but it wasn’t just the game that left him drained.

After he delivered his opening statement, Izzo was bombarded with more questions over an ESPN report that detailed a series of mishandled sexual assault allegations and abusive behavior toward women that occurred at Michigan State since 2007.

The story came just two days after the sentencing on Wednesday of former Michigan State University sports doctor Larry Nassar, accused by more than 140 women of sexual assaults going back decades.

“It’s been hard to focus in on basketball because when I do, I feel guilty,” Izzo said. “There’s so many things that I don’t know and I just feel guilty talking about anything else.”

The country in recent weeks has been undergoing an intense re-examination of how institutions — from Hollywood to politics to journalism and now sports — handle sexual misconduct allegations.

In his post-game comments Izzo did not directly address the details made public in ESPN’s report — including a 2010 incident in which then-graduate assistant Travis Walton was allowed to remain on staff despite allegedly punching a woman in the face. Walton was also later accused of sexually assaulting another student with two male players.

Izzo said he’ll cooperate with any investigation over the incidents. Michigan State football coach Mark Dantonio, meanwhile, said Friday that the allegations in the article were false.

Izzo said the scrutiny on the program has been tough, but he said his sympathies lie with the survivors of Nassar’s assaults.

“I’ve been through a lot more than my guys have been through,” he said. “Yes, this is something that affects them, but not nearly as much. Don’t feel sorry for me or them. There’s 140-something women that we all feel more sorry for.”

The NCAA announced last week an investigation of Michigan State’s handling of years of sexual assault allegations lodged against Nassar.

Michigan attorney general Bill Schuette also announced the state would open an investigation over the university’s prior knowledge of Nassar. Michigan State has already seen its president, Lou Ann Simon, and its athletic director Mark Hollins step down in the past week.

Izzo, too, has had calls for his job and has faced speculation over whether he’ll retire, but the coach said Friday that he isn’t “going anywhere.”

Asked Sunday why Walton left the program in 2010, Izzo said he didn’t remember.

“I have cooperated with every investigation,” Izzo said when asked if he had any regrets on how Michigan State has responded to any allegations. “Every single one and I will continue to cooperate with every investigation, every one.”

Izzo said his team did its job dealing with “all the distractions.” The Michigan State coach said he wants his players to pay attention to the news, and advised them to be careful in what they say.

Izzo, who turns 63 on Tuesday and is in his 23rd year as a head coach, said, “There have been more life lessons learned this year than ever.”