Tom Izzo Leads Michigan State to Sweet Sixteen, Ties Jim Boeheim for Tournament Wins
Tom Izzo is a veteran in college basketball. Michigan State advances to the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA Tournament. The Spartans beat New Mexico 71–63 in the second round on Sunday. With that win, Izzo ties former Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim for the fourth-most tournament wins in NCAA history.
After the game, Izzo shows his thanks. He feels grateful to share praise with a coaching icon like Boeheim. Yet his focus stays on one goal: a championship. “Jim Boeheim’s a friend too and he’s won a lot of games, man,” Izzo said. “He’s won a lot more games than I have. Thank God in the tournament I’ve been fortunate. Any time you can accomplish something with your team and your coaches that some of the most respected guys and coaches in college basketball have achieved, that’s a privilege and an honor. I’ve just never seen any banners hung for those kinds of things and I’m kind of a banner guy. So until that happens, I’ll enjoy it, but I won’t do cartwheels over it.”
This win marks Michigan State’s 16th time reaching the Sweet Sixteen under Izzo. He carried a 10–5 record in earlier trips. The Spartans keep a streak of 27 straight NCAA Tournament appearances. That is the longest active streak in the nation. Even though Izzo has reached the Final Four eight times, he has won only one championship since 2000. His wish to win another title is very clear.
Michigan State began the tournament as a No. 2 seed—their highest since 2019. They overcame tough play against New Mexico. The team shot only 26.7% from beyond the arc. Next, the Spartans will meet Ole Miss in the Sweet Sixteen. They hope that win will boost Izzo’s tournament victory count. That match is set for 7:09 p.m. ET on Friday.
Before the tournament started, Izzo shared his view on the challenge. “I’m not proving anything in the NCAA tournament,” he remarked. “I’m hoping to continue to win games but I’m smart enough to know, and I think most of you are, because the reason it’s called one and done is because one bad minute and you’re out. The NBA doesn’t have that, the NFL doesn’t have that, Major League Baseball doesn’t have that. That’s what makes college basketball and the NCAA tournament… I’m not trying to validate anything. I’m not trying to say, ‘Here, I’m not dead yet.’ I’m still relevant. I have a good team.”
As the Spartans prepare for the next challenge, Izzo stays focused on the true prize—a new banner to hang in the rafters of East Lansing.
