‘You do not hang banners for milestones’: Tom Izzo adapts and

Adam RittenbergMar 14, 2025, 07:19 AM ET Close College football press reporter; signed up with ESPN in 2008. Graduate of Northwestern University.EAST LANSING, Mich.– Tom Izzo has a

complex relationship with fond memories right now.The Michigan State coach turned 70 on Jan. 30, in the midst of his 30th season with the Spartans. Seventeen days later, he broke Bob Knight’s record for Huge 10 career victories with his 354th. Last week, the Basketball Hall of Famer tied Knight and previous Purdue coach Ward Lambert for the most regular-season Big 10 champions with his 11th. The Big Ten tournament tipped off Wednesday in Indianapolis, and Izzo and the Spartans deal with Oregon going for his seventh title, which would contribute to his league record.Next week, Izzo will lead Michigan State into the NCAA tournament for the 27th consecutive time, seeking his very first nationwide title

in 25 years.All the landmarks and anniversaries could stir sentimental sensations about the past, however Izzo isn’t wired that way.”You don’t hang banners for milestones,”

Izzo informed ESPN.”You hang banners for champions. “Izzo would happily trade any of the specific honors he has actually gathered this year or in current seasons for the one that has eluded him and Michigan State given that 2000. He’s easily the very best coach without numerous nationwide titles, while reaching eight Final Fours.Editor’s Picks 2 Related “When he broke that record, the Bob Knight record, it was quickly celebrated around here,”Spartans freshman guard Jase Richardson said.”We had our little moment for him. Next day, he’s not concentrated on that. He’s concentrated on the next game. I

certainly can see that dedication of him trying to get another championship.”There is a part of nostalgia that Izzo enjoys, that includes training Richardson. The emerging star’s dad is former Spartans great Jason Richardson, a freshman on Izzo’s 2000 national title group who became an All-American and a top-five NBA draft pick. Jason

Richardson has been with the group much of the season to see Jase play. So have many other previous players, who delight their previous coach when they reveal up.MSU honored the 1999-2000 group before the Oregon game on Feb. 8, which brought Mateen Cleaves, Morris Peterson and other standouts back to school. Even those who didn’t dress for Izzo have occurred, consisting of Magic Johnson, star of the 1979 national championship team, who participated in MSU’s Feb. 4 game at UCLA.

Johnson advised Izzo that achievements, group or individual, ripen with age.”That had to do with as excellent a statement as you get, “Izzo said. “I’m sure these things will indicate more to me as time passes, and some day, if I retire, I make sure they’ll indicate more.”Izzo is likewise in the longest Final Four dry spell of his head coaching profession, but he has actually a group poised for a deep tournament go to possibly reach his first Final 4 given that 2019. Lots of believed Izzo’s 2nd title would come soon after his very first, however there would be an unique fulfillment to win it now, when he remains in a different phase of life, and college basketball has gone through significant changes.” It’s a lot more difficult to coach today than it was 25 years ago,” he said.Can this version of Tom Izzo win everything in this variation of college basketball? The answer will can be found in a month that has specified Izzo’s career.Before recently’s journey to Iowa, Izzo stood along the sideline of Michigan State’s practice court, hands on his thighs, eyes glued to the proceedings. He walked around throughout the two-hour practice but constantly went back to the two-point position, like a linebacker awaiting the

snap.Assistant coach Jon Borovich led the walk-through portion, however Izzo interjected at times. After a defensive sequence, Izzo informed center Szymon Zapala to move his guy further from the basket.”Knock him on his ass,”Izzo said.When the scout team hit a step-back 3-pointer, Izzo stepped in to advise the group,”There are no excellent misses out on, there are no lucky makes. We have actually got ta stop those shots in practice and in the game.” In the future in the workout, Marquise Gray, who played for Michigan State from 2004 to’09, showed up and bear-hugged his old coach. Izzo later informed press reporters that Gray had asked him if he was on the third practice of the day.” I said, ‘No, no, Quise, that’s prohibited once again now,'”Izzo said.Izzo misses out on the method it used to be.

His war drill, a competitive rebounding sequence, once included basketball players wearing football equipment lent by previous Spartans coach Nick Saban. Jason Richardson called that practice “among my finest,”

and has told Jase everything about it.”He had an overall different experience and an absolutely various Izzo,”Jase Richardson said of his daddy. Tom Izzo had a look at his approach to practice and players after not having a deep NCAA tournament run since 2019. Dale Young/Imagn Images Izzo understands he can’t restore the helmets and shoulder pads.”Biggest thing they ever talked about,”Izzo said of his former players.”You understand, we had fun. It’s nearly like you can’t have a good time any longer. “Izzo still takes pleasure in practice, however, particularly with his current group. The slogan above the practice court–“Strength In Numbers “– fits a group without many All-America candidates or top-end NBA potential customers. Only three players were ESPN top-25 recruits, and none remained in the top 15. The Spartans don’t lead the Huge 10 in least points allowed, rebounds or helps, but they rank among the leading three in each category. They aren’t an explosive offense, and they rank last in the league in 3-point shooting portion, but they have actually discovered enough scoring– from various sources– when needed. “You can return to 25 years ago with the national championship team– his

teams are not going to beat themselves, “stated ESPN analyst Tom Crean, an Izzo assistant from 1995 to ’99 who went on to lead Marquette, Indiana and Georgia.”They might lose, however they’re not going to give the game away due to the fact that they made ridiculous turnovers or tried to take shots that they could not make, or they were out

of character when it’s time to win the game. That does not indicate he’s constantly going to win. It indicates that he’s always going to have an opportunity. “That something that’s been building for a long, long time. “When asked how his current team stacks up with the 1999-2000 team, which featured five future NBA draft choices, Izzo is direct.”I do not believe they’re as skilled, player for player,” he said.”The togetherness, the friendship, the defense, was good back then; it may be a little better now. The rebounding was truly great at that time; it might be as excellent now.”The existing group shares another quality with the national championship team: an approval to be coached the method Izzo desires– and needs– to run.”We don’t take it the incorrect method,” senior guard Jaden Akins said.” You’ve absolutely got to be able to take some criticism. He’s not simply going to be peaceful anytime

you make a mistake. But I seem like you need to just listen to what he’s stating, not how he’s saying it. He understands what he’s discussing, and if you want to win, you require to listen.

“There’s a willingness amongst those getting the message, but likewise for the male delivering it.Five years back, Michigan State got in the Big 10 competition on a five-game winning streak. The Spartans had actually beaten 5 of their previous 6 ranked challengers and, in Izzo’s estimation, had the components for a deep NCAA competition push. However then COVID-19 struck and the postseason was canceled.The next

4 seasons brought below average results, at least by Izzo’s standards. MSU went 41-38 in Huge Ten play, never completing higher than fourth. The Spartans reached the Sweet 16 in 2023 as a No. 7 seed however seldom looked like a title competitor. The stretch likewise accompanied significant changes in college athletics, from name, image and similarity and the transfer website to a total environment in which players brought more leverage.Izzo had to pivot, and there were some battles.

“I was not requiring,”he said.”I did not hold them accountable enough. In my mind, I let some things go. “He paused.” If I do not like you, that’s an issue, “he stated.” If I don’t like me, that’s a genuine issue, and I didn’t like me.” Izzo is now coaching boys of a few of his most noteable former players. Steven King/Icon Sportswire Izzo looked at how other coaches operate, such as Saban, who won seven nationwide titles in college football, and six-time Super Bowl champ Expense Belichick. He listened as Johnson told him how Pat Riley inspired the”Showtime”Lakers. In spite of pushing 70, he made changes to how he coached.When Jason Richardson and his previous colleagues occurred this season, they ribbed Izzo about how he’s getting soft and shouting less. The yelling still happens, however Izzo also communicates more with players. “This guy has a performance history. Why wouldn’t you listen to

him? “Cleaves said.”We listened to him when he didn’t have a performance history. Now, he’s shown. If youcan be found in there and listen and buy in, you can go to Last Fours, you can win conference championships,

you have a possibility to win a championship game. “Older players such as Akins and junior center Carson Cooper have actually seen the distinctions in Izzo, even in the tone of his voice when resolving the team. As Izzo puts it, the players are getting both his human side and his passion.The result has been a more connected team.

Last season, Michigan State lost 10 games by 7 points or less. The current Spartans are 7-3 in such games. They won a team-record 17 Big 10 games and posted their highest regular-season wins amount to (26) given that 2017-18.

They have actually also delivered wonderful minutes, such as Tre Holloman’s buzzer-beater from beyond half court to beat Maryland in College Park on Feb 26. Michigan State’s midseason 13-game winning streak matched its longest considering that the 2018-19 season, and the group went undefeated in December and January for the first time under Izzo.”

The last 2 years, he was type of letting some stuff go that was monumental to our success,”Cooper said. “This year, he’s shut all that down. He informed himself that all those little things can cost us.”Izzo likewise is trying to not let state-of-the-game things trouble him as much. He served on committees with Roy Williams, Mike Krzyzewski and other notable coaches about the modifications coming to college sports, and he brooded over what he heard and later saw.He may not totally welcome every component of college basketball’s brand-new world, however he’s still residing in it.

“I’m attempting to live what I think, “Izzo stated,” and yet change.”In August, Michigan State traveled to Spain for 10 days, bouncing from Madrid to Valencia to Barcelona for games. Jason Richardson tagged along and saw how players pulled for one another on the court and chuckled with each other off of it. The group advised him of his own MSU teams.

“This group is going to amaze you, ‘” Richardson told the crowd at the Michigan State Insanity preseason event. “They’re going to shock you. ‘” Cleaves has seen the players’connection when he has actually been around them. He texts with a number of players after games and spoke in the locker space after the Oregon win, surrounded by his former colleagues.”I stated,’Take a look at this. This is unique,'”Cleaves remembered.”When you do something special like winning the champion, you’ll never forget it for the

rest of your life. It’s not about you. I did it all at Michigan State. I was a three-time All-American, Big Ten Player of the

Year 2 times, got drafted with the 14 choice in the NBA. Guy, it has to do with winning

. What indicates more to me than anything is winning the championship game.”Cooper hung onto every word. Although he and his teammates weren’t alive when MSU won in 2000, he matured not far from school in Jackson and recognizes what Spartans basketball implies in the area.He delights in experiencing Izzo’s turning points in genuine time, even while

his coach is “desperate as ever” to win another national title. While reaching 8 Final Fours, Izzo’s lone title featured Mateen Cleaves (ideal)& Co. in 2000. Ryan McKee/NCAA Photos/Getty Images “What truly struck me hard was that 25th anniversary, seeing all those guys returning,” Cooper said. “It truly makes me think that 25 years from now, I wish to be able to come back here and see all these guys again and have these memories to share. “Izzo probably will not be coaching in 2050, although you never know.”Tom Izzo can take a punch, “Crean stated.” You have actually been at it as long as he has, that is a major 15-round fight that he’s still in. But it ain’t gon na end at 15 rounds.

It ain’t gon na end anytime quickly. He likes it too much, and he’s still so relevant with his group and players.”Izzo has actually enjoyed several of his national championship-winning peers exit recently– Williams, Krzyzewski, Syracuse’s Jim Boeheim, Villanova’s Jay Wright and Virginia’s Tony Bennett. He believes their existence is missed out on in the sport.He liked the way his good friend Saban retired from Alabama, grinding until completion without any send-off.”There will be no goodbye trip,” he said of his own departure.”It will be,’Adios. ‘Saban was best.”Izzo will have a game plan for retirement, but just if set off by specific aspects, including his health, which remains good. When he can’t take a red-eye from Las Vegas to Orlando for an AAU game, he’s out. When he can no longer get in touch with players and form significant relationships, he’s out. But that time hasn’t come.His original goal as a head coach was to be constant and pertinent, constantly within reach of a champion.

Would he like more titles? Sure. If Alan Anderson didn’t hurt his knee late in an Elite Eight win over Kentucky in 2005, possibly the Spartans would have won all of it that year. Possibly if MSU had actually encountered anybody other than North Carolina in 2009, it would have claimed a champion in Detroit. However Izzo likewise explained that if Cincinnati’s Kenyon Martin didn’t break his leg in the conference competition in 2000, perhaps the Spartans would not have gone on to win.March has actually been wonderful and harsh for Izzo, however he looks forward to another champion push.

The sport has altered and so has he, however the objective stays the same.”I kind of started to like this difficulty a little bit,”he said.”Can we still knock on the door in a different way? I just wish to coach my group, I wish to win

another championship sometime, and I ‘d like to get guys to live their dream, since I got to live mine.”