EAST LANSING — As Tom Izzo looked around the Upper Dome, soaking in the love from fellow Yoopers on a special Sunday afternoonhe felt a flash of life in front of him.
But afterwards, Michigan State The venerable head basketball coach made it clear: he’s not done adding to his memorable moments.
On Thursday, as Izzo delivered the preseason State of the State address at his annual media day, he reiterated that his 30th year leading the Spartans would not be his last. Although some took his trip to the Upper Peninsula as a sort of sayonara or prelude to the end.
And he further noted that his hip replacement surgery in the spring made him feel “healthier and happier now than he did three or four years ago.” He continues to enjoy his life of red-eye flights observing recruits, watching late-night movies, and taking long trips that accompany his philosophy of anyone, anytime, anywhere . Whether playing in Maui, Los Angeles or New York. Or Marquette in the UP
“I will say this: When I don’t do this and you hear I don’t do that, then you can start predicting and guessing,” a defiantly rejuvenated Izzo said Thursday. “But until then, anyone who wants to use it, please do so. Bring. He. On. Any day of the week, go for it.
So begins year 30 for the Basketball Hall of Famer. Izzo, MSU’s all-time winningest coach, needs 10 Big Ten wins during a season of expansion and change to tie Bobby Knight’s conference record of 353.
Izzo’s eight Final Four appearances are the most among active Division I coaches. His 26 consecutive NCAA tournament appearances are an all-time record for a school coach.
Izzo’s legacy is already ingrained in college basketball history. Yet one thing remains elusive, as much a determining and motivating factor as anything else. And his players know very well that they are the only ones who can achieve it.
Izzo is hungry for a second national title to go along with the The Spartans’ triumph in 2000, 25 seasons ago.
“Coach is still desperate to get back in that championship circle,” junior center Carson Cooper said. “I think first on our list is to get back into the Big Ten race. I think the last few years have been a little shaky.
The Spartans extended Izzo’s NCAA streak last year, advancing to the second round of the West Regional before falling to No. 1 seed North Carolina to finish 20 -15. It was MSU’s 12th straight season with 20 or more wins, not including the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 season.
However, the Spartans struggled in Big Ten play and were eliminated early, going 10-10 in championship games. MSU is 41-38 in conference play over the past four seasons since last winning a third straight Big Ten title in 2020.
MSU lost three key players from last season, guards Tyson Walker and AJ Hoggard and forward Malik Hall, replacing them with two transfers (wing Frankie Fidler and center Szymon Zapala) and three freshmen (the guards Jase Richardson and Kur Teng and forward Jesse McCulloch). .
“It’s just different overall, just a lot of new faces and new players. So we’re ready to get to work,” redshirt freshman point guard Jeremy Fears Jr. said. “Obviously it’s going to take a little time, but everyone is getting better. It’s a challenge. Everyone needs to step up and do a little more now than last year. I think now everyone kind of has a new role and a new start.
MSU won a rare road show, 70-53, at Division II Northern MichiganIzzo’s alma mater where his jersey was retired during the game. Returning to the Breslin Center and rewatching the game earlier this week, Izzo wasn’t happy with his team’s performance — but, in keeping with his current theme of accountability, he took some of the blame for the ” distractions that I cause.” because the game turned into a special event celebrating Izzo and the entire U.P.
“It was really good team building,” Izzo said. “It was really good to meet people who, like I said, have no rights in their lives as far as I’m concerned. … And it was really good for our players, because there were distractions, and that’s what you have to live with.
The initial energy created by the game at the Superior Dome now gives way to another long wait, much like the break between the 10-day, three-game trip to Spain in August and the start of practice in late September. The Spartans’ final exhibition game is Oct. 29 in Breslin against Ferris State, with the season opener Nov. 4 against Monmouth.
Izzo is salivating at the thought of his players having two days off next week and putting them through two practices a day. He wants to refine their cohesion and create more connectivity when matches count in less than three weeks.
Far from slowing down, the 69-year-old continues to increase in intensity as the season approaches. Just like he did 30 years ago.
“He’s still that Hall of Fame coach. I mean, obviously he is,” senior guard Jaden Akins said. “He still has a lot of energy, I feel, even though he’s a little older.”
Contact Chris Solari: [email protected]. Follow him @chrissolari.
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This article was originally published on Detroit Free Press: Tom Izzo defiantly rebukes any talk of possible Michigan State retirement
