By Shawn Windsor, Detroit Free Press –
INDIANAPOLIS — Michigan State coach Tom Izzo blasted Illinois’ decision to fire basketball coach Bruce Weber on Friday.
Illinois finished 17-15 after a Big Ten tournament loss to Iowa on Thursday. The Illini were 6-12 in league play.
Weber went 210-101 in nine seasons at Illinois.
“I’m sick about it. I’m sick about it. And I’m sick about it — and make sure you understand the reason why.
“They beat us early in January, and I beat Ohio State, and so I have three problems. Bruce is a friend of mine. He’s been here since the Gene Keady days. He’s done it the right way. He doesn’t cheat. He mans up to his own responsibilities. Incredible, incredible person. I’ve recruited against him and lost, and I’ve recruited against him and won, and (it) hasn’t changed things.
“No. 2, we have to understand that we blame kids for a lot of things. Kids have changed. Now we have administrators that are pulling the rug under ourselves in the middle of January, when you’re 16-6 or 16-7 or whatever it was, and we publicly talk about — we’ll make decisions at the end of the year.
“I don’t know what you guys think of kids, because they haven’t changed much, but if there’s one place they’ve changed, they’re a little more fragile. Not as many two-parent homes. Not as good of school systems that are holding kids accountable and demanding. And so now we put that on those poor kids? And then we’re surprised that they lose nine out of 10?
“I think it was ridiculous the way that thing was handled. And if I take abuse for that, I really don’t care, because I’m also the president of our association. This isn’t about a friendship. This is about a profession.
“And whenever you’re in an organization, whether it be yours, whether it be mine, or whether it be a business one, the only way you can be successful is if, top to bottom, from the president to the trainer, we’re all on the same page.”