Michigan State Basketball Tom Izzo and longtime friend Greg Kampe spread some holiday cheer Tuesday night as both coaches donned matching Grinch inspired sweaters.
The Spartans beat Oakland and Kampe — who reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season — 77-58 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on Tuesday in the battle between the national programs. College basketball’s two longest-tenured coaches, Izzo and Kampe, both wore sweaters emblazoned with the Grinch’s famous mischievous smile during the game.
MANDATORY READING: Michigan State basketball reveals gift with 77-58 2nd half win over Oakland
Kampe even crashed Izzo’s post-match press conference.
“Sit down, Kamp,” Izzo said as Kampe appeared. during his press conference. “You bought the ugliest sweaters I’ve ever seen and for the first time in your life you paid for them, so I’m really happy about that.”
Kampe replied: “I didn’t want to embarrass him, so I had to buy two. So as not to give him a shirt that was too small. I gave him a small, and a double, and I knew he would carry double.”
The duo then went head-to-head in the post-game interview, with their friendship on clear display as the two winningest coaches in the history of each of their programs sounded more like a live podcast than a interview.
Kampe, in his 41st season in Oakland, led the Golden Grizzlies to an upset victory over Kentucky to earn the program’s first-ever first-round victory in the NCAA Tournament. He owns an all-time record of 700-537 and has the 10th most wins among all active Division I coaches, just 11 wins behind Izzo.
Izzo, one of the greatest college basketball coaches of all time, led the Spartans to eight Final Four appearances, including a national championship in 2000. The 69-year-old Michigan native owns a record of all time from 711-296.
Although they’ve been training against each other, the two longtime enemies have certainly been celebrating.
This article was originally published on Detroit Free Press: Tom Izzo and Greg Kampe wear matching ‘Grinch’ sweaters at MSU-Oakland game
