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Tom Izzo Tells Kur Teng ‘You Can’t Guard My Mother’ During Michigan State’s Win at Oregon

Izzo later said he meant the remark as motivation for the guard after a poor eight-minute stint.

Overview

  • FOX College Hoops cameras captured the first-half huddle exchange and the clip spread widely across social platforms.
  • Izzo told reporters he was "serious as a jaybird" and referenced his mother’s age as 99 and a half in explaining the remark.
  • He said he hoped the blunt callout would make Teng angry enough to defend harder rather than serve as a light-hearted joke.
  • Teng went scoreless in eight minutes with a turnover and two fouls as No. 10 Michigan State beat Oregon 68-52 to reach 17-2 overall and 7-1 in the Big Ten.
  • Michigan State returns home to play Maryland on Saturday, and coverage noted differing reports of his mother’s age even as Izzo cited 99 and a half.