Michigan's Dusty May Accuses MSU of 'Very Dangerous' Plays, Tom Izzo Responds

Dusty May's Michigan Wolverines improved to 20-1 on the season with a 12-point road victory over rival Michigan State on Friday, but the Wolverines head men's basketball coach still wasn't over some of the Spartans' play a few days later.

"I think there were several plays that are very dangerous, and I am incredibly proud of our guys for the responses they had to some of those situations," May told reporters Monday. "Incredibly proud of their self-control, their restraint and their impulse control. I'll leave it at that. But they're not isolated incidents."

May highlighted one play in particular when Michigan State guard Jeremy Fears Jr. appeared to trip Michigan's Yaxel Lendeborg.

"Appeared? It wasn't an illusion," May said.

Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo responded by revealing he talked to Fears but believed the battle with Michigan guard Elliot Cadeau had something to do with the situation.

"There were some things Jeremy did. I addressed on it," Izzo said. "Him and their point guard were going at it pretty good. That's what happens in games like this, so if anybody did anything dirty, tell them to call me and I would be more than happy to address it. If it was physical play, that's the way that game is always going to be."

Yet he also took issue with the suggestion it was just the Spartans who were making dangerous plays.

"I have no idea, but I thought there were a couple of plays the other way too, like jumping into a guy and getting a foul when it was a complete joke," Izzo said. "This is what it's supposed to be. And you know what? Michigan is over. I don't care what Dusty says. I don't care what they say."

Michigan State has always been known for its physical play under Izzo, and Friday was no different in the latest edition of a heated rivalry game with plenty at stake.

The Wolverines are now 10-1 in the Big Ten and a game ahead of the 9-2 Spartans. The rematch at Michigan is the regular-season finale on March 8, and a conference title and better seed in the NCAA tournament could be at stake.

These comments will also only serve to drive up the anticipation for that rematch in what figures to once again be a physical game.

Michigan benefited from some of that physicality in Friday's matchup, as Lendeborg led the team in scoring with 26 points in large part because he shot 15 free throws.

But May still had an issue with it even after a victory.