For Tom Izzo, Friday was an “old-fashioned ass-kicking” at Wisconsin

Afterward Wisconsin's dismantling of his Spartans Friday night in Madison, Tom Izzo did not search for softer language.

“Well, first of all, that was a good old-fashioned ass-kicking, to be honest with you.”

That was the headline inside the locker room after Michigan State’s 92–71 loss at the Kohl Center – a game the Spartans never led, trailed by 17 at halftime (51–34) and fell behind by as many as 24 in the second half (78–54). The loss drops MSU to 20–5 overall and 10–4 in the Big Ten, now tied in the loss column with Wisconsin, which improved to 18–7 and 10–4 in league play.

Inside the numbers, the themes Izzo hit were found everywhere.