Izzo Worried About New Rules

Michigan State Coach Tom Izzo criticized new NCAA rules banning rough play, saying they’re causing confusion among his players.

“There’s going to be contact,” Izzo said Monday. “Bumping a guy or keeping an arm on a guy but not displacing him, to me, is not physical.”

Izzo also said that referees probably will keep a close eye on his team, which has gained a reputation for physical play. But he expressed hope they’ll differentiate between physical play and roughness.

“We’re a physical team, yes. Dirty or grabbing? I don’t think we’ve ever been called that,” he said.