In what had to be a first in Michigan State basketball history, men’s coach Tom Izzo had one of his (former) players ejected from Monday night’s game.
The odd incident came late in the second half of the Spartans’ blowout win over USC on Jan. 5.
With just over six minutes left on the clock and Michigan State leading 67-46, veteran referee Jeffrey Anderson stopped play after a spectator said something. Turns out, that spectator was former Spartans forward Paul Davis − a four-year starter for Izzo from 2002-06.
Anderson walked over to the Michigan State bench to talk to Izzo, who then exasperatedly waved his arms in Davis’ direction. On the television broadcast, he could be seen saying, ‘What are you doing?’
A few seconds later, Anderson asked security personnel to remove Davis from his courtside seat.
Across the court, an animated Izzo waved his arm toward Davis and motioned him to leave.
The Hall of Fame coach was asked about the incident after the game, but didn’t provide any specifics. ‘Let’s not get carried away. It wasn’t something racial, it wasn’t something sexual. It was just the wrong thing to say. I’ll leave it at that,’ Izzo said.
Davis, a 6-11 power forward, averaged 13.2 points and 7.0 rebounds per game over his four-year career at Michigan State. He helped lead the Spartans to NCAA Tournament berths every season, including a loss in the 2005 Final Four to eventual national champion North Carolina.
A second-round pick by the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2006 NBA Draft, Davis played four seasons in the league − three with the Clippers and one with the Washington Wizards.
What did Paul Davis say to get ejected?
‘I love Paul Davis, I really do. He’s one of my favorite guys,’ Izzo said. ‘What he said, he should never say anywhere in the world. That ticked me off. Just because it’s 25, 20 years later, I’m gonna have to call him tomorrow and tell him what I thought of it. And you know what he’ll say? ‘I screwed up, coach. I’m sorry.’’