Jonathan Smith explains why MSU fell apart in blowout loss to Indiana
Jonathan Smith explains what happened to Michigan State in a 47-10 loss to unbeaten Indiana, Nov. 2, 2024 at Spartan Stadium.
Provided by Michigan State athletics
Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo has been among the most successful college basketball coaches for the last three decades.
Izzo is entering his 30th season as the Spartans’ coach and has guided the team to a 2-0 start to the 2024 college basketball season. Izzo and the Spartans face their biggest test thus far when they face No. 1 Kansas (2-0) in Atlanta’s State Farm Champions Classic.
Under Izzo, the Spartans have always been a constant in the NCAA Tournament, with 26 straight appearances, the longest active streak. Only Mike Krzyzewski, John Wooden, Dean Smith, and Roy Williams have more Final Four appearances among coaches in NCAA Tournament history.
Tom Izzo was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Sept. 9, 2016, and the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 2015. He has earned eight National Coach of the Year awards.
Here’s what you need to know about Izzo’s career record, age and more:
Izzo has a career record of 709-295. He has coached at Michigan State for all 30 years of his career. Under Izzo, the Spartans have won 10 regular-season, six conference tournament championships, and the 2000 national championship.
Izzo’s 707 wins are the fourth-most by any coach in his first 29 seasons in college basketball history.
Izzo has reached the NCAA Tournament in 26 out of his 29 seasons, including a national championship in 2000. Izzo led Michigan State to its second national championship in the program season. The Spartans defeated Florida behind a squad featuring Final Four Most Outstanding Player Mateen Cleeves and Jason Richardson.
Michigan State, led by Izzo, reached the 2009 title game but lost to North Carolina.
Izzo has helped the Spartans reach the NCAA Tournament in 26 straight seasons, the longest active streak in the NCAA. He has a career record of 56-25 in March Madness and has reached the Final Four eight times. The 56 NCAA Tournament wins are the most ever for a Big Ten coach and rank sixth all-time.
Izzo has coached Michigan State to the Sweet 16 15 times, the Elite Eight 10 times and the Final Four eight times.
Izzo was born on Jan. 30, 1955, making him 69. He will turn 70 during the 2024-25 college basketball season. Izzo has been with the Spartans for the last 42 years, serving 12 years as an assistant coach before taking over the head coach role.
In October, Izzo responded to other programs using his age against him regarding recruiting.
“Well, you know, it’s such a loaded question, because people wanna use it against you in recruiting and all those things,” Izzo said to press. “But I will say this, when I don’t [go on 5 a.m. recruiting trips], and you hear I don’t do that, then you can start predicting and guessing.
“But until that, all the ones that are out there wanting to use that, bring it on. Bring. It. On. Any and every day of the week, bring it on.”
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