NEWNow you can listen to Fox News articles!
Michigan Head coach Tom Izzo has been known to visibly get angry with his players during his years in East Lansing, but what happened Monday night against USC was different.
Izzo expressed his dissatisfaction with the former player.
During the defeat of the Spartans Trojans80-51, Izzo was seen attacking former Michigan State center Paul Davis, who played for the team from 2002 to 2006, after he caused a disturbance in the stands.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo reacts to the bell during the first half of the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Pinnacle Bank Arena on January 2, 2026 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Stephen Branscombe/Getty Images)
The umpires pointed to Davis, who was a spectator, from his courtside seat after he was among many in the building who disagreed with the second-half decision. Davis stood up and shouted to referee Jeffrey Anderson.
Anderson responded with a loud whistle, stopped play and pointed at Davis. Anderson then approached Izzo to explain what happened, and the 70-year-old coach flew into a rage.
2026 MEN'S NCAA TOURNAMENT PREDICTIONS: NEBRASKA'S RISE CONTINUES, NOW GONE. 2 SEEDS
He pointed at Davis first, and it was clear he asked his former center, “What the hell are you doing?”
Davis was met by someone who asked him to leave his seat, and that's when Izzo went crazy. He shouted: “Get out of here!” at Davis, who appeared to point at Izzo, perhaps apologizing for interfering with the play.
Izzo was asked about Davis' ejection after the game.
“What he said, he should never say anywhere in the world,” Izzo responded when asked what happened. “It made me angry. So, just because it's been 25, 20 years, I'll have to call him tomorrow and tell him what I think about it. And do you know what he will say? “I screwed up, coach. I'm really sorry”.
Izzo quickly clarified that Davis' words “weren't racial” and “it wasn't sexual.”
Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo protests a call that benefited the Iowa Hawkeyes in the first half at the Jack Breslin Student Activities Center on Dec. 2, 2025. (Dale Young/Imagn Images)
“It was just the wrong word and I'll leave it as it is.”
Davis later met with reporters Tuesday, apologizing for his actions.
“I'm not here to make excuses. I'm here to take responsibility and acknowledge it,” Davis said. It was a mistake that will never happen again. It wasn’t my fault, but unfortunately it was last night.”
Izzo said Davis was one of his “favorite guys” when he played for the Spartans. He had breakout sophomore campaign with 15.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and two assists per game in 30 games for Izzo in the 2003–04 season.
Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo reacts during the second half of the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Pinnacle Bank Arena on January 2, 2026 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Stephen Branscombe/Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
During his senior year, Davis averaged a career-high 17.5 points in 33 games.
He was selected in the second round of the 2006 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Clippers. Davis played only four seasons in the league, his last with the Washington Wizards.
Follow Fox News Digital sports reporting on X and subscribe to Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
