re: Calipari contacted by Texas

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I think there is some connection between Oats/Izzo and Michigan State

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Oats worked Izzo's basketball camps for more than a decade as a high school coach in Michigan.

“He’s the guy I’ve always looked up to,” Oats said. “It is a little surreal. ... It’ll be a little different, going down and shaking his hand before this game.”

Izzo might have played a role in Alabama’s hire of Oats, too. Athletics director Greg Byrne placed a call to Izzo before making a decision.

Then there is the connection between Izzo and Nick Saban, who both worked at Michigan State as assistants in the 1980s before serving as the Spartans’ head basketball and football coaches in the 1990s.

“First time I met Saban, we talked about Izzo,” Oats said. “I’ve talked to Izzo about Saban when I see him on the road. And those two are still pretty well-connected and stay in touch. We’re a long ways behind Michigan State basketball as far as tradition.”

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