Few coaches personal March like Tom Izzo. And on Saturday, the Michigan State Spartans coach constructed extra fairness by punching a ticket to his seventeenth Candy 16.
East Area No. 3 Michigan State (27-7, 15-5 in Massive Ten) superior to the second weekend of March Insanity following a 77-69 win over the No. 6 seed Louisville Cardinals (24-11, 11-7 in ACC). The Spartans by no means trailed after halftime and have been led in scoring by ahead Coen Carr, who had 21 factors. Guard Jeremy Fears Jr. set a program report with 16 assists, surpassing the earlier single-game mark set in 1978 by all-time nice Magic Johnson (14). (h/t Stathead)
Michigan State will play both the No. 2 Connecticut Huskies (30-5, 17-3 in Massive East) or the No. 7 UCLA Bruins (24-11, 13-7 in Massive Ten) within the regional semifinals. Contemplating Izzo’s previous success within the Candy 16, the Spartans’ run would possibly solely be simply getting began.
Tom Izzo provides to spectacular March legacy with win over Louisville
Izzo, who turned Michigan State coach forward of the 1995-96 season, is 11-5 all-time in the Sweet 16, together with wins in 4 of his final 5 appearances. Final season, Michigan State defeated the Ole Miss Rebels, 73-70, to succeed in the Elite Eight, the place it misplaced to the South Area No. 1 seed Auburn Tigers. That outcome was an outlier for Izzo, who, CBS Sports activities school basketball analyst Matt Norlander famous following Saturday’s win, has an impressive report within the second video games of an NCAA Match weekend (spherical of 32, Elite Eight, nationwide championship).
Per Norlander, Izzo is 26-9 in such video games, with The Athletic senior reporter Chris Vannini including that of his 9 losses, seven have been to a No. 1 seed or eventual nationwide champ.
