Everything Tom Izzo said after Michigan State lost to Auburn in the Elite 8 (2025)

"I thought we missed some good shots in there, but maybe some of it was their defense too.

"All in all, you don't get defined -- unfortunately, your last game wears with you. I'm asking these guys that, if it does, make sure that you do something about it in your life. For Jaden, he's not done playing basketball either.

"All in all, the most unbelievable year I've had, the most connected year I've had. I just appreciate what these guys did for myself, our program, our university, and our community. So questions for them."

ON HIS OPINION OF THE SEC AND AUBURN COACH BRUCE PEARL

"The league's been great all year, there's no question about it. They had the top teams. They competed every week against each other. I think it's amazing that they were picked 1 in the country early, and they survived most of the year.

"They went through a little bit of a down spout there, and part of it was Broome was hurt there for a little bit. I think they had one other kid out for a while.

"We did most of the things we wanted to do except guard Broome a little bit better. It wasn't the points he scored that got us. We're used to giving up points and making sure they don't get 3s. Pretty good 3-point shooting team. We held them to 28 percent. It was just he was 10 for 13. That's why he's an All-American. That's why he's a Player of the Year candidate. Did a helluva job.

"I thought that stretch early, they went 17-0, and we just turned the ball over. It's been a problem for us a little bit. Not the turnovers, we had nine for the game, which is phenomenal against a team like this. But it was in the spurt that's we had them.

"Boy, that stretch we had at the beginning. At one time we had four or five offensive rebounds and kicked it out and had shot after shot after shot, it just didn't go in, and that happens.

"I'd say Bruce has done a great job because it's hard to keep a team, as I remember back to those days, from start to finish. The fans were great today. I mean, I don't think it affected us, and I say that because we played in some of the greatest venues. But they were great. I mean, they were great.

"I don't think that's why we lost. I think we lost because they played better than we did. They didn't shoot so well, 42, but that includes his 10 for 13. So the rest of the guys, we did a good enough job on. We just didn't score it enough ourselves, and we didn't -- the turnovers were at critical times that led to layups."

ON MSU'S PLAYERS CREDITING HIM FOR HIS TRUST AND HELPING THEM GROW

"Oh, yeah, it's the greatest. The greatest thing is players coming back, but the second greatest thing is watch people trying to reach the goals. I always tell them you've got to dream it, and they dreamed it early. You've got to work for it and have a goal. They had the goal, and today they lived the reality of it.

"They were -- it wasn't like the game was that close that we felt like we could have won it. I say we felt like we should have won it because we didn't. Could have won it, I think we could have. And yet you never know, man. You never know if you get another chance.

"I think that's the hardest thing when you're talking to a team after. You just want to say remember this moment so next year -- because Cleaves taught me that and some other guys. You start somewhere, and you get to a Sweet 16, next year it was Final Four, next year you won it. The problem is you've got some guys that don't get that extra chance. It's hard to say that in the locker room. It's a really unnerving thing.

"All in all, God, it's going to be really hard to beat the connectivity and the camaraderie of this team. We were young, you know. We more or less started two freshmen, and our two guards were freshmen. We got some work to do yet, but I love the guys I've got in the locker room."

ON HOW HE AND HIS STAFF MAXIMIZED THIS YEAR'S TEAM

"Yeah, there's no question, this was probably the number one. But as far as pulling out, what I thought when we left this building against Kansas, back in November, I think it was, there were a lot of questions on a lot of people's minds, but some in mine.

"I thought my staff did an incredible job and the trainers. We had no injuries all year. I think part of that was playing a lot of people and not wearing people down. But I also -- it's not easy to play a lot of people. It's not easy to accept it as a player, and it's not easy to do it as a coach.

"I felt like it reinvigorated me to realize there's still people out there that care about winning and care about getting better and care about playing for the school they're at and care about playing with the players they're with. In this day and age when it's getting a little more selfish, that is rewarding, that is exciting, that is invigorating.

"I usually try to stick to four letter words and under, but I'm going way out of my line right now, and it was invigorating.

"So who knows? Who knows what the future brings, but I guess for the first time they got four 1s in the Final Four. Is that true? Second time?

"When we went in Minnesota, my third one, I think we had three 1s and a 2. That means that people that get all the criticism, besides the coaches and the media, the selection committee must have done a pretty damn good job. Give them credit.

"I do think in watching, I watched some of that Houston game today, and ironically I was hoping to get there. I took Kelvin Sampson's spot at Michigan State, as weird as that sounds as a GA, so it would have been nice to get there with him. Jud would have been looking down complaining to both of us that we don't play any zone.

"But I think of Rick Barnes and the job he did. There's so many people who did a good job. Guess what, somebody's going to go home sad. Today it's the Spartans. Next Saturday it'll be two more teams. Next Monday, it will be one more team. I don't want to make it as trite as it sounds because it's not.

"If you've been in the locker room, there's some locker rooms that people are bitching and complaining, and there's some locker rooms where people are crying and hugging. It was a crying and hugging locker room, and that means we had something special.

"I'm going to appreciate that. I'm sure it will feel better in a couple days. I give a lot of credit to Auburn. I think they're well coached. I think they did a good job. I think Broome is the real deal, does things kind of effortlessly.

"And I thought those guards didn't play as well as they've been playing if you want the truth. Did we have something to do with it or not? But you know what, as you say, when your Number 1 guy brings it, and you know he's been around a few years, they deserve to move on.

"Thank you very much. Atlanta was great. Appreciate you. I'll see you guys somewhere."