Tom Izzo Enters Legendary Status with Win No. 400 in the Big Ten
“I’m pleased to say I am here for life at Michigan State,”
“I am going to be a lifer,”
“This is what I’m going to be. And I’m damn proud of it.”
Those were Izzo’s words during his press conference two summers ago after the NBA had tried to sweep him off his feet.
Izzo made another statement on Wednesday night, but he didn’t speak it.
He claimed victory No. 400, as the Spartans beat Minnesota at the Breslin Center. The win meant much more to Izzo than improving Michigan State to 17-4 and moving the Spartans into a first-place tie in the Big Ten.
The win makes Izzo only the fourth coach in Big Ten history to win that many games. Only Bob Knight of Indiana, Gene Keady of Purdue and Lou Henson of Illinois have more wins in the Big Ten.
Izzo could pass Henson next year for third on the list. And if Izzo plans to coach another 10 years, he should become the winningest coach in Big Ten history.
The coach from the Upper Peninsula already has something special that the coaches ahead of him do not. Izzo has only served as a head coach at Michigan State. Henson coached at New Mexico State before and after Illinois, Keady coached Western Kentucky before taking the Purdue job, and Knight coached Army before and Texas Tech after his tenure at Indiana.
With the seconds counting down against Minnesota and the Izzone chanting “400,″ Izzo teared up on the bench. The win obviously meant a lot to him, but it’s his team that wanted to give it to him the most.
“It’s a great feeling to be a part of. I love that guy,” senior Draymond Green said. “Coach don’t get emotional about a lot of stuff. Usually when he’s getting emotional, it’s about something for somebody else. It’s great to see him get emotional about something he accomplished.”
Center Derrick Nix knew that his coach would appreciate the win. Izzo doesn’t hold back with his emotions with his team.
“I knew he’d cry at the end,” Nix said to ESPN. “He always wears his emotions on his sleeve.”
The team surprised Izzo at the postgame press conference when they barged in and presented him with a signed ball that read “400.” The team all took turns hugging and shaking Izzo’s hand, a testament to the difference between the team’s chemistry this year and last year.
“I know it meant something to them,” Izzo said. “I didn’t realize it before.”
It meant something to a lot of people. For Spartan fans, it means they have a coach who will guide their team throughout the next decade.
A Spartan for life.
Read more College Basketball news on BleacherReport.com
View full post on Bleacher Report – College Basketball
Tom Izzo: Michigan State Spartans Give Coach Izzo 400th Career Win
Coach Tom Izzo struggled to fight back the tears as the seconds ticked down at the end of Michigan State’s game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers Wednesday night.
A raucous student section had been chanting the name of the legendary coach for close to the final two minutes of the contest, before the buzzer sounded to officially give Izzo a milestone win.
Izzo—who earlier in the week played down the importance of his milestone 400th win at the helm—cited the outpouring of emotion from his players as one of the predominant reasons for his tears.
Ultimately and deservedly so, Izzo’s milestone will be the main story coming out of the game, but the ceremony and praise for their coach shouldn’t hide another impressive Spartan victory.
Riding an especially exuberant student section, the Spartans came out from the start with ferocious defensive pressure, something that they maintained for much of the game.
Minnesota relied on two early three-pointers to stay in touch in the opening stages but were hurried and harassed whenever they were in possession.
Points were coming at a premium for the Gophers.
The Spartans, meanwhile, were scoring with ease.
The inside work of Derrick Nix, Adreian Payne and the ever-influential Draymond Green was sensational in the opening stanza, with much of the Spartan offense being generated from the low post.
As the half went on, Minnesota fought back into the contest but was never quite able to get close enough to challenge Michigan State.
That changed in the beginning of the second half, when the Golden Gophers were able turn the tables on the Spartans and applied their own pressure, which led to a period of the game that was dominated by Minnesota.
However, that period of dominance was short-lived, as Michigan State was once again able to gain the ascendancy in the later stages of the contest, ultimately pulling away to a 68-52 win.
Green was clearly the dominant force on the court, tallying 22 points, 14 rebounds and six assists.
However, he once again had support in the form of Keith Appling—seven points and four assists—and freshman sensation Branden Dawson, who added 16 points and four blocks.
The Spartans, part of a trio along with Ohio State and Michigan, sit tied atop the Big Ten with a 17-4 record.
Michigan State is 13-0 at home.
With games against both Michigan and Ohio State in the near future, wins like the one the Spartans enjoyed tonight cannot be overlooked.
In reality, Minnesota was a team the Spartans should have beaten comfortably, and in the end they were able to do that.
But it was the manner in which they were able to win that will leave Michigan State in good shape for another tournament run.
Coach Izzo was celebrating a milestone tonight, but if the Spartans can continue to build this season, Spartan fans will be hoping to party once again in March.
Read more College Basketball news on BleacherReport.com
View full post on Bleacher Report – College Basketball
Izzo wins 400th as No. 10 Spartans roll (AP)
Earlier in the week, Tom Izzo downplayed what his 400th victory would mean to him. When the Michigan State coach reached the milestone, though, he was overcome with emotion. Draymond Green had 22 points, 14 rebounds and six assists to help the 10th-ranked Spartans beat Minnesota 68-52 Wednesday night for Izzo’s 400th win.
View full post on Yahoo! Sports – NCAA Men’s Hoops News
Michigan State Basketball: Tom Izzo Wins 400th as Spartans Beat Minnesota
Tom Izzo won his 400th game as the Michigan State Spartans defeated the Minnesota Golden Gophers 68-52 Wednesday night at the Breslin Center.
Izzo downplayed the milestone prior to the game but had tears in his eyes as players congratulated him while the clock wound down.
Senior forward Draymond Green led the No. 10 Spartans (17-4, 6-2) with 22 points and 14 rebounds. Freshman forward Branden Dawson added 16 points and shot 7-of-10.
Michigan State went on a 16-5 run to end the first half and went into the locker room with a 37-27 lead after Green hit a three pointer to beat the buzzer.
Minnesota (15-6, 3-5) came within five with just under 10 minutes to go, but it was not enough to overcome the deficit.
Rodney Williams scored 15 for the Gophers and Ralph Sampson III added 10.
After their second two-game losing streak of the season, Michigan State has won two in a row and moved into a tie atop the Big Ten with Michigan and Ohio State.
Read more College Basketball news on BleacherReport.com
View full post on Bleacher Report – College Basketball
Izzo: ‘Below the belt’ heckling of Hummel
An Izzone member shouted something relating to Purdue forward Robbie Hummel’s recent ACL injuries during the game, which Izzo took deep offense …
View full post on USATODAY.com Feed
Michigan State’s Izzo doesn’t flaunt power
Relationships built over time help the Michigan State basketball coach mesh with his president and athletics director.
View full post on USATODAY.com Collegebasketball
Michigan State’s Tom Izzo doesn’t flaunt his power
Relationships built over time help the Michigan State basketball coach mesh with his president and athletics director.
View full post on USATODAY.com Collegebasketball
Izzo, Williams eager for Carrier Classic (AP)
The aircraft carrier that buried Osama bin Laden at sea is ready for the first college basketball game to be played on an active flat top. As long as the rain stays away from the Carrier Classic on the flight deck of the USS Carl Vinson on Friday afternoon, coaches Tom Izzo of Michigan State and Roy Williams of No.
View full post on Yahoo! Sports – NCAA Men’s Hoops News
Izzo excited for Carrier Classic (AP)
Even if it’s windy on the flight deck of the USS Carl Vinson on Friday afternoon, Michigan State coach Tom Izzo says the Carrier Classic between the Spartans and No. 1 North Carolina Tar Heels will be a “memory-maker.” After all, Izzo says, no one has played a college hoops game aboard an active flat top before.
View full post on Yahoo! Sports – NCAA Men’s Hoops News
Michigan State’s Tom Izzo looks at schedule with humor
Coach has a sense of humor about what lies ahead, for now.
View full post on USATODAY.com Collegebasketball
