logo
Tom Izzo's throwback Michigan State brings its Sparty fight, just the way he likes it

Tom Izzo's throwback Michigan State brings its Sparty fight, just the way he likes it

USA Today29-03-2025

Tom Izzo's throwback Michigan State brings its Sparty fight, just the way he likes it
Show Caption
Hide Caption
1 seeds Florida & Duke prep for Elite 8 against Texas Tech & Alabama
Mackenzie Salmon breaks down Elite 8 matchups, as No. 1 Florida will take on No. 3 Texas Tech and No. 1 Duke will verse No. 2 Alabama.
Sports Seriously
ATLANTA – Tom Izzo paced to the very end of the bench, almost to the tunnel at State Farm Arena, and drew a big breath as he watched Jaden Akins' first free throw splash through the net. Then he whipped back to the edge of the coaches box near midcourt, spreading his legs and getting into as much of a defensive stance as a 70-year-old man can, pumping his right fist as the second one went down.
Michigan State, finally – and barely – was on the verge of another Elite Eight. And for Izzo, who hadn't taken a team there since 2019, it meant perhaps just a little bit more than you might think for a man who's been to the Final Four eight times.
But not for his own sake.
Izzo wants another national championship, sure. He lives for the thrill of being there on the final weekend of the college basketball season, something he calls 'one of the all-time great things in any basketball player's life.'
But mostly, he just wants more time with this unique and resilient team. And after hanging on to beat No. 6 seed Ole Miss, 73-70, you can see why.
When you've been somewhere as long as Izzo has been at Michigan State, it's dangerous to compare teams or players from different eras. As he joked Thursday, he'll have Mateen Cleaves or Draymond Green hunting him down if he talks too glowingly about how much he loves this particular group.
Can you blame him, though?
In a transactional college basketball era where no relationship seems permanent, where assistant coaches often make less money than players and where so many of the program-building skills that made Izzo a Hall of Famer aren't as relevant as they once were, this Michigan State team is a throwback.
It's not overly athletic nor particularly skilled and not even as old as most college coaches want their teams to be constructed these days. Ole Miss had Michigan State beat on all three counts Friday.
But not on the scoreboard.
Because goodness, does Sparty fight – just the way Izzo likes it.
'We're not a team that can just go out and play and win,' Izzo said. 'And boy, we did a helluva job in the second half.'
With 12 minutes left, it didn't look like it was going to happen. The Spartans were struggling to break the paint against an opponent that Izzo called 'the most physical defensive team we've played in years.' They were kind of getting bullied on the glass, too. Ole Miss had controlled the game from the opening tip and just looked like the more complete team, poised to make the Elite Eight for the first time in school history.
And then? Well, in the complete absence of any other plan that was going to work, Michigan State's guards just put their heads down and attacked. If it wasn't Jeremy Fears it was Akins. And if it wasn't Akins it was freshman Jase Richardson, who showed on a very big stage why he's going to be a first-round NBA draft pick in a few months if he wants to be.
Yes, Richardson was 4-of-6 from the 3-point line on a night when his teammates were 2-of-11. But for a 19-year-old who isn't even close to reaching his peak physical development to play as under-control with the ball, to be as fearless in traffic and to even come up with a couple of clutch rebounds late showed why this version of Michigan State has just a little more juice than recent Izzo teams.
'We weren't being as aggressive as we should have been,' said Richardson, whose father, Jason, played on Izzo's only national title team in 2000. 'I feel like they were kind of just punking us in the beginning. We couldn't get to the paint. Shooting decent shots, but not great shots. I think second half it really opened up for us. We were being more aggressive, getting downhill and getting driving kicks. I felt like we were at our best in that second half.'
And little by little, Michigan State reeled Ole Miss in, got back on even terms and then made every key play down the stretch. Whether it was Izzo getting great looks for his guys out of timeouts, nailing every clutch free throw and then getting the toughest bucket of the night from Akins off a broken play with 1:23 remaining to break a 63-all tie, it was vintage Sparty.
'I love these guys because they kept grinding,' Izzo said. 'They kept grinding. I'm proud and happy for them. They've earned it. They deserved it. They did it.'
There's no reason to believe Izzo is walking away anytime soon, but he may never get another chance like this to reach the Final Four. He hates the transfer portal, loathes what the business of college basketball has become and isn't going to compromise what's important just to get a player.
He's coached long enough now that more sons of Spartan greats may be in the pipeline, but that's probably not a great recruiting strategy. For Michigan State to get Izzo to one more Final Four, it's going to have to be like this, wringing every ounce of ability out of a roster nobody else could coach this well.
But now they're just 40 minutes from going back. And betting against Izzo when he's got this kind of opportunity in his sights rarely works out well.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Miami Marlins join efforts to restore defaced Jackie Robinson and Minnie Miñoso mural
Miami Marlins join efforts to restore defaced Jackie Robinson and Minnie Miñoso mural

Associated Press

time36 minutes ago

  • Associated Press

Miami Marlins join efforts to restore defaced Jackie Robinson and Minnie Miñoso mural

MIAMI (AP) — The Miami Marlins are joining efforts to restore the defaced mural of baseball legends Jackie Robinson and Minnie Miñoso in Miami's Overtown neighborhood, which was marked with racist graffiti last week. City of Miami Chairwoman Christine King announced Wednesday that she along with the Marlins, Urgent, Inc., Omni Community Redevelopment Agency, Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency and other community activists will lead the restoration at Dorsey Park, where community leaders said a 7-year-old boy first discovered the vandalism last Sunday and asked his mother what the words and the Nazi symbols meant. 'This vile assault was an attack on our values, history, and community,' King said in a statement. 'We are actively working with law enforcement and the public to identify the individual(s) responsible for this intolerable act. However, even in the darkest hours, light finds its way to shine. This is a reminder and testament to the strength of our community, coming together to restore peace, beauty, and pride to this neighborhood.' Police were investigating the incident but have not made any arrests. City workers have since partially covered the murals of Robinson and Miñoso, an Afro-Cuban player, with wooden boards. The murals are along a fence at Dorsey Park, where Negro League teams once played baseball. The Marlins' home ballpark loanDepot park is just a few miles from the park. 'In light of the deeply troubling acts of vandalism at Dorsey Park, the Miami Marlins today proudly stand in solidarity with the City of Miami Chairwoman Christine King, and our local leaders in unequivocally condemning this hateful and racist act,' said Marlins owner Bruce Sherman. 'Dorsey Park is not only a landmark of historical and cultural significance in South Florida — it is a powerful symbol of resilience, pride, and the enduring contributions of trailblazers to the game of baseball.' Robinson broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball when he signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947 to become the first Black player. Miñoso became the league's first Afro-Latino player and the first Black player for the Chicago White Sox. The murals have been displayed in the park since 2011 and are a collaboration between artists Kyle Holbrook and Kadir Nelson and various community groups. ___ AP MLB:

McCutchen moves past Clemente on Pirates' home run list in 5-2 win over Marlins
McCutchen moves past Clemente on Pirates' home run list in 5-2 win over Marlins

CBS News

timean hour ago

  • CBS News

McCutchen moves past Clemente on Pirates' home run list in 5-2 win over Marlins

Andrew McCutchen hit a milestone three-run home run in the fifth inning to help the Pittsburgh Pirates defeat the Miami Marlins 5-2 on Wednesday. McCutchen's shot to left-center field off Cal Quantrill was his sixth of the season and 241st in 12 seasons with the Pirates, moving him past Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente into third place on the franchise's career list. Willie Stargell (475) and Ralph Kiner (301) are ahead of McCutchen. The homer put the Pirates ahead 4-0 after they scored a run on catcher Nick Fortes' throwing error in the second inning. Pittsburgh took two of three in the series, went 6-3 on the homestand and sent the Marlins to their eighth loss in 10 games. Bailey Falter (5-3) allowed one run — on rookie Heriberto Hernandez's first career homer — on five hits in 5 1/3 innings. The left-hander is 4-0 with a 1.61 ERA in eight starts since the beginning of May. David Bednar pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his ninth save in as many chances. Quantrill (3-7) went five innings and gave up four runs — three earned — and six hits while striking out six. He lost his third straight start. Ke'Bryan Hayes had two hits for the Pirates. The Marlins got two hits each from Hernandez, Fortes and Connor Norby. With the Marlins down 1-0 and the bases loaded in the fifth, rookie Augustin Ramirez lined out sharply to right field to end the inning. Bednar is perfect in save opportunities this season after blowing seven of 30 last year. Up next The Pirates visit the Chicago Cubs on Thursday night in the opener of a four-game series. LHP Andrew Heaney (3-4, 3.24) will pitch for the Pirates. The Cubs have not announced a starter. The Marlins are off Thursday before starting a three-game series at Washington. RHP Edward Cabrera (2-2, 3.99) will take the ball for the Marlins. ___ AP MLB:

Oilers likely making a change for Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final. Who starts in goal is a mystery
Oilers likely making a change for Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final. Who starts in goal is a mystery

Associated Press

timean hour ago

  • Associated Press

Oilers likely making a change for Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final. Who starts in goal is a mystery

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Kris Knoblauch said Wednesday the Edmonton Oilers are likely making a change in their lineup for Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers, though the second-year coach would not reveal what it would be or who he plans to start in goal on Thursday night. Stuart Skinner was replaced by Calvin Pickard late in Game 3 after allowing five goals on 23 shots on the way to a 6-1 defeat. Pickard allowed one more in mop-up duty. Knoblauch, captain Connor McDavid and others defended Skinner's play, insisting the team needed to be better in front of him. 'We've got to help him, for sure, and I think that he's been playing unbelievable in the last, what, three, four, five weeks,' defenseman Mattias Ekholm said. 'I don't know how long it's been now, but it feels like a long time and he hasn't had a bad game. Maybe last night was one of those when it was good to get it out of the system. Hopefully it's one of those, a night off.' Skinner has allowed 13 goals on 97 shots in the final, an .866 save percentage. Florida's Sergei Bobrovsky has allowed nine on 125, a .928 save percentage. 'He gives us a chance every night,' Panthers forward Evan Rodrigues said. 'That's all you can ask for, right? Some big saves, key saves at key moments and we're not taking him for granted, that's for sure.' Edmonton started the playoffs with Skinner, went to Pickard after two losses to open the first round against Los Angeles and won six in a row. Pickard was injured in the second round against Vegas, so Skinner got the net back and has been the starter since. He allowed 10 goals on 132 shots in five games against Dallas in the West final, a .924 save percentage. 'Calvin was playing really well but I think, also, we've always felt confident in Calvin,' Knoblauch said. 'Calvin's always been a guy who (has) been able to come in and give us good, quality starts.' The play in front of the crease is a bigger concern for the Oilers. Veteran defenseman John Klingberg is a team-worst minus-4 through two games. 'John's been great through the playoffs: He's gotten us through a lot of rounds,' Knoblauch said. 'At this time of the year, you want depth. You know there's going to be injuries and things you have to change up to your lineup.' Troy Stecher, who played a handful of games earlier in the playoffs when Ekholm was out, figures to take Klingberg's place if that is the move. 'Troy's been very valuable to our team, through regular season, playoffs and probably one thing we as a coaching staff appreciate a lot from Troy is just how dependable he is,' Knoblauch said. 'No matter if he's playing big minutes regularly, hasn't played for a long period of time, any time we've needed him he's given us really good minutes and usually not making mistakes.' Top-line forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is again going to be considered a game-time decision with an undisclosed injury. Nugent-Hopkins did not skate Tuesday. The Oilers had a (well-attended) optional practice Wednesday that included McDavid and Leon Drasaitl among the more than half-dozen players on the ice. Ekblad's hit One of the most noticeable moments of Game 3 was Aaron Ekblad connecting with McDavid on a clean, hard open-ice hit. McDavid almost helicoptered down to the ice as Panthers fans cheered. McDavid went to the locker room not long after but with an equipment manager, not a member of the training staff. Ekblad did not think much of it. I didn't think it was that big hit, no,' Ekblad said. 'I don't even think I got him that good, realistically. So, I don't know, I'm just trying to get in his way and separate man from puck and that's all you can ask for against a guy like that.' The body checks are piling up. Ekblad had three of the five on McDavid in Game 3, and the reigning playoff MVP has been hit nine times in the series. Florida has outhit the Oilers, but not by much: 137-124. Maurice's memory Only nine-time Stanley Cup champion Scotty Bowman — father of Oilers general manager Stan Bowman — has coached more games in the NHL than Florida's Paul Maurice. With that comes some full-circle moments. On the other bench in the final this year and last is Hall of Fame defenseman Paul Coffey, an assistant on Knoblauch's staff. Maurice when asked about older players delivering in the playoffs in light of Brad Marchand and Corey Perry starring in the final told a story about making Coffey a healthy scratch for the first game of the first round in 1999 against Carolina in his 'foolish youth.' 'He handled it great,' Maurice said. 'He said, 'I don't agree with it, but I understand it.' He went back and I think he rode the bike for about three hours. ... And then he went into Game 2 and he was maybe our best player (and) one of the best players on the ice. And I always remembered that as these older players view the playoffs differently.' ___ AP NHL playoffs: and

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store