Head coach Tom Izzo and his Spartans are marching on. The legendary coach expressed his feelings simply yet impactfully; “I love these guys.”
At 70, this legendary coach still has much left in the tank.
Michigan State’s Tom Izzo Reaches the Elite Eight For the 11th Time in His Illustrious Career
Grit is a word commonly used to describe an Izzo-led basketball team. In a come-from-behind 73-70 victory over Ole Miss in the Sweet Sixteen, Michigan State is not done yet.
Twenty-six years after his first Elite Eight appearance in 1999, Izzo is taking yet another team on another deep tournament run for the 11th time in his illustrious career.
“Sometimes, it’s surreal… I think of some of the guys I’ve idolized in coaching that have never been to one [Elite Eight]. I’m just so pleased. But I’m humbled by it because there were so many good players. And my staff did a hell of a job. They all deserve [praise] today because they did a hell of a job, too.”
For the past few years, Izzo has wondered how much longer he’ll be coaching. Retirement became a real possibility as college basketball changed in unexpected ways.
Contemplating his next steps as he entered the unknown, he viewed it as a challenge, one that he hopes will culminate in his second national championship.
With the transfer portal and NIL regulations, this transformative chapter has forced Izzo to adapt and evolve. For CBS analyst Garry Parrish, the coach has nothing left to prove.
“Tom Izzo can retire with four more national championships or retire tonight, and he will go down in history as one of the greatest to ever do it.”
In yet another classic March Madness game, Izzo’s Spartans kept fighting, even when down at halftime. They showed heart and an unrelenting drive to push through adversity when it mattered most.
The Big Ten champs surged in the second half, making clutch bucket after clutch bucket down the stretch.
While Izzo stated that this year’s Michigan State team isn’t the most talented he’s coached in East Lansing, he believes in their commitment to excellence and togetherness.
Spartan guard Tre Holloman had this to say about his head coach:
“Man, we just love [Izzo]… We love his competitiveness. He’s a winner, so we’re just backing him. We are blessed to be here, but we belong here for sure.”
Without comparing this years squad to old, Izzo approaches every game with the same mindset, “live in the moment and play for each other.”
This unit has become one of the nation’s top defensive teams and continues to find ways to make the right plays in key moments. Izzo’s endearing relationship between his players and coaches seems all but destined to read the Final Four.
With San Antonio just one win away, Izzo’s lasting words have stuck with his players as he described his season experience.
“We’ve had the most strength in numbers as we’ve ever had here — to get to an Elite Eight with a team that we all know isn’t quite as talented as I’ve had, it shows you how important connectivity is… It shows you how important pulling from one another is, and that’s what makes this so cool.”
KEEP READING: Michigan State vs. Auburn Prediction: Tigers Look to Claim a Ticket to the Final Four
Never bet against a locked-in Izzo-led Spartan team if a lesson is learned here. Michigan State takes on #1 seed Auburn this Sunday in what should be another epic battle.
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