Auburn’s Pearl not buying Izzo, MSU as underdogs

• Myron MedcalfMar 29, 2025, 05:57 PM ET

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  • Covers college basketball
  • Signed up with ESPN.com in 2011
  • Graduate of Minnesota State University, Mankato

ATLANTA– As the No. 1 total seed in the NCAA competition, Auburn is, not remarkably, a minus-4.5-point favorite against Michigan State in their Elite 8 matchup Sunday, according to ESPN BET.But Auburn coach Bruce Pearl doesn’t think the chances inform the real story of the game, recommending Michigan State and its traditionally effective program must be the genuine favorite.

“The majority of our guys are guys that were mid-majors or junior college or Division II,” Pearl stated Saturday. “I’m not going to let Michigan State play the underdog card despite the fact that we’re a No. 1 seed and they’re a No. 2 seed. No, they’re Michigan State. They’re Kansas. They’re Duke. They’re North Carolina and we’re Auburn.

“We know our location. We know what we’re attempting to take on, and we know the uphill battle that it is when you play against a Hall of Popularity coach and, obviously, a famous program.”

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Pearl also cited the variety of McDonald’s All-Americans on their respective lineups as a factor in his position on the Spartans. Michigan State’s Xavier Booker and Jeremy Fears Jr. both played in the 2023 installment of the game, while Tahaad Pettiford is the only McDonald’s All-American on Auburn. He likewise noted Tom Izzo’s perfect record (10-0) versus SEC groups in the NCAA tournament.Izzo, nevertheless, doesn’t appear to agree. He said he and Pearl have actually been friends for many years however he never ever gets caught up in the odds due to the fact that anything can happen to a team, regardless of its seeding.

“I have actually been through so many of these, I’ve been a 2-seed that’s been beaten by a 15-seed,” Izzo said. “I have actually been a 1-seed that hasn’t left the first weekend, so I don’t purchase any of that things, however if it makes them feel better, I’ll be the favorite. I’m cool with that. Whatever they desire me to be, I’ll be.”

This season, Pearl’s team was ranked No. 1 for almost three months after a 90-day stretch that included just one loss. Pearl earned SEC coach of the year honors, Johni Broome was called SEC player of the year and three other Auburn players were honored by the league, too.For Michigan State, Jase Richardson has actually matured into a predicted lottery game pick in ESPN’s latest 2025 NBA mock draft, but the Spartans did not have a player on the all-Big 10 very first or second teams this season.Still, Izzo said his focus is not on any comparison in between the 2 programs because his group matters most at this stage.

“The game will be won by the players, not the gamblers, not the media, not even the coaches,” Izzo added. “The game will be won by the players who play the game.”

Pearl and Izzo have history against one another.Pearl mentioned his

current wins over Huge Ten teams as the outcome of the cumulative edge in “athleticism” the SEC has actually had more than the Big Ten in the last few years. However the last time he dealt with Izzo in the Elite Eight, he left with a loss. He stated he still blames himself for Tennessee’s 70-69 loss to Michigan State in 2010 because of the method he managed the last seconds of the game. On Sunday, he said he’ll have the exact same issues he had about Michigan State 15 years ago.

“They have actually constantly been as athletic as anybody in the backcourt,” Pearl stated. “Michigan State has elite athletes in the backcourt. Therefore, like my athletes, they protect. They can score in multiple ways. Then, his front lines are always big, strong, physical. They play really difficult.”

Izzo didn’t recall every detail from that 2010 Elite Eight game against Tennessee that capped his 5-seed Michigan State group’s run to the Last 4 that year. He said he’s only focused on his existing group, which will have its hands complete versus Auburn, among the most knowledgeable groups in the field.

“In fact, [Pearl’s] team is extremely mature,” Izzo stated. “I will not state old. I prefer that people call me mature rather of old, so I’ll do the very same thing for their 23- and 24-year-olds.”