Q: What Do Roy Williams and Barack Obama Have in Common?

A: Skin Tone.

Come on, isn't that a little creepy?  I mean, Roy Williams already has the look and drawl of a car salesman.  He doesn't need the fake tan to make him look even more conspicuous.  

Anyways, this photo was taken on Monday when the Tar Heels met with President Obama to celebrate their national championship.  I wish this photo was of (sufficiently undertanned) Tom Izzo, but what's in the past is in the past. 

Here's a link to the Freep article.

Cup of 'Zo: 05/08/2009

Here are a few links to start your day off right:

• Ganakas overcomes stage fright for Izzo
• The Wealthiest Black Americans
• 2009 NBA Mock Draft (Both Rounds)
• Spartans are loaded, but Lucas must improve

Can Gus Ganakas overcome his stage fright for Izzo and charity? Does Magic make the list of the wealthiest Black Americans? Who the hell is Cammo and I why do I care about his mock draft (Hint: It starts with "Suton" and ends with "gets drafted"?) To find out the answers to these burning questions and more, check out today's Cup of 'Zo links!

Tom Izzo To Make Musical Theater Fans Les Miserables

Here's a pretty funny take from Deadspin on Izzo's upcoming Broadway-style show. I think it's a great idea, but Dashiell Bennett seems a little bit reluctant.

Look...I love Tom Izzo and I hate cancer, but if a Broadway-style musical extravaganza starring an undersized Yooper doesn't have Bad Idea Jeans written all over it, I'll eat my tap shoes.

Read the full article here.

Pick up tickets to the performance at the Wharton here.

"I’m Not Sure I’d Walk Through Them.”

My friend forwarded my this article about how tough Izzo is and I just could not help but post it.  This is a must-read for anybody from Michigan and, honestly, for anyone who loves college basketball.  I mean, it contains this quote: 

He was asked Tuesday if the Final Four would help him recruit nationally, he shrugged. “It might be able to open up doors. I’m not sure I’d walk through them.”

How can you not love Izzo after reading that?  He also talks about why he likes recruiting kids from Detroit and Flint because they don't "have silver spoons in their mouth."

Phew...We're Safe!

John Calipari has accepted the head man job at Kentucky, so it looks like all the media's rumor-mongering about UK pursuing Izzo will be on hold for a while. Until the next job opens up, at least (I am looking at you, Kevin McHale.)

Gillespie Out; Izzo In?

Billy Gillespie has been canned by the University of Kentucky and Pat Forde from ESPN is reporting that these are the top five candidates:

1. Rick Pitino
2. Tom Izzo
3. Thad Matta
4. Travis Ford
5. John Pelfrey

It's really hard for me to imagine Izzo leaving State to go down to UK, but it's not as unbelievable as it once was. Izzo may have reached his peak at State and being the head man at UK is definitely a more prestigious job. It definitely doesn't seem like a big enough upgrade to make the switch, unless he just wants a new challenge. Izzo is MSU basketball, so the slightest thought of him leaving makes me sweat....I'll keep you updated.

All-B10 Teams Announced

It looks like my hunches were a little more accurate than the UM Hoops blog:

MSU got some props, with Lucas (1st Team, POY,) Suton (2nd Team,) Walton (Defensive POY,) Morgan (Honorable Mention,) Roe (All-Frosh) and Izzo (Coach of the Year) all receiving accolades.

I thought that there was a chance that Morgan would be 3rd team, but I knew it was lofty thinking.  Hopefully this will help his decision to come back next year.

Cleaves Continues to Impact MSU

MLive reports that the new family center at the Brez was dedicated to Frances Cleaves, Mateen's excentric mother who passed on back on 07.  Seems like quite an honor.  Izzo is actually fronting the money.  Seems like a good thing for everyone involved.  

Plus, I used to work at the Bres and the hallway to the locker room would be absolute pandamonium while everyone was waiting for their kids to come out.  This should alleviate some of this traffic.

EAST LANSING -- Michigan State will celebrate another aspect of its basketball tradition when it dedicates the Frances Cleaves Family Center on Sunday afternoon.

Great to see the Spartans pulled off a victory on such a special day.

Weeeeeee Are the Champions, My Friends....

Great to see this pic of the Spartans cutting down the nets after their big victory over Purdue.  Wait, is that Ibok up on the ladder?  Of all the members of the team, the Freep puts the pick of Ibok front and center on its sports section?  Hahaha...awesome.  I guess it goes with the Izzo team unity theme.  Notice that he is only on the second rung?  The man is a giant.

The Big Ten Race Just Got Friskier...

Well, MSU can still win the B10, but it is going to take some work.  Here's what Big Ten Geeks has to say: 

So it appears that there's still some life left for the chase for the conference title. Michigan State still has the inside track, of course, but Purdue also controls their own destiny. Win out - including the season finale against the Spartans in East Lansing - and they will secure at least a tie for the Big Ten title. Now that Robbie Hummel appears to be healthy, they have a reasonable shot. 

Hopefully this was a wakeup call to the Spartans to get their sh*t together.  Purdue's D is good, but they made State look ridiculous.  I bet Izzo has the boys running a little harder today....

Bama Fans Waste My Time

Looks like our good friends over at TideFans.com are discussing the merits of hiring Tom Izzo to be there next head coach.  Sometimes I daydream too, but it doesn't mean that I shouldn't make fun of these guys for considering for even a millisecond that Izzo would leave one of the "top four basketball schools" (thanks Pat Forde!) for the sinking ship that is Alabama basketball.  Well, if you're bored, maybe you should check this out....

http://www.tidefans.com/forums/basketball/84129-official-tom-izzo-thread.html

Highlights include: 

I definitely agree he has a few good years left. But, the past five years makes me wonder if [Izzo] has any "great" years left. Of course, let's be honest - at Alabama, most people would settle for ONE great year.

and

Tom Izzo is an outrageous concept -- but that's partly because our expectations have been kept so low that it feels borderline delusional to think a coach of his level might look our way. 

I would probably keep those expectations low for the time being....