I spoke with Tom Izzo on the phone for 25 minutes Wednesday morning and never once did the subject of the Chicago Bulls come up.  This while Yahoo Sports was publishing a story that the Bulls were considering Izzo as their next head coach along with established NBA veteran Rick Carlisle, a former Pistons' coach.  How serious are the Bulls and would Izzo leave for the NBA?

     I'd guess no, he won't leave, but I know as of my conversation with him he had not heard from the Bulls.  He was at the Flint airport en route to Milwaukee to recruit and to meet up with his incoming recruit, Korie Lucious.  He's worried about next season's loaded non conference schedule but he's anxious to see his new team and how it develops.

     Note to Bulls:  If you're serious, start with huge money and I mean top of the line.  Yahoo says some NBA people think Izzo is different from other college coaches, who've struggled in the NBA.  A selling point is that Izzo, like any big time college coach, could go to the NBA, get fired (but make a ton of money in the process).  He could then return to the college ranks to big money and success as others like Mike Montgomery, Rick Pitino and John Calipari have done.  Izzo apparently told Yahoo he'd listen to anyone who wanted to visit with him but tipped his hand no further than that.  Credibility on this story?  Stay tuned.  Izzo has been head coach for 13 years and been at MSU for 25 and at age 53, it seems the more the seasons go by the less his chances of leaving exist.  But as soon as we say he won't leave, I guess then look out, right?

#####