‘I love these guys’ – March Madness coach left in tears by performance that caught Magic Johnson’s eye
Michigan State and their veteran coach have reached the Elite Eight. The Spartans secured a gritty, come-from-behind victory over Ole Miss on Friday, edging out their opponents 73-70 in the Sweet 16 round of March Madness. Michigan State have reached the Elite Eight of March MadnessGetty At 70-years old, Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo remains in a college game that’s in the midst of its most transformational chapter. He is the longest-tenured coach in the Big Ten Conference, and has spent the last 30 years with the Spartans. Izzo has seen it all, and led his team to victory in the NCAA Tournament back in 2000, but more recent NIL rules and the transfer portal have prompted many coaches in his age group to step away. The veteran remains, though, and has rejected retirement talk in pursuit of a second national championship. ‘Mr March’ was court-side once again on Friday night, where he watched his team hold off the No.6 seeded Rebels to book their place in the Elite Eight. After the game, Izzo was overcome with emotion while showing love to his squad after a big comeback win. “I love these guys, you know?” he said, through tears. “It’s simple, they don’t quit. We’ve been a second-half team. “One of these days, we’re going to be a first-half team.” There was little about Friday’s victory over Ole Miss that was TV-friendly. The Spartans, under veteran head coach Izzo, came from behind to beat Ole Miss in the Sweet 16Getty Michigan State will now face Auburn in the next roundGetty The Rebels had a double-digit lead in the first half, as Izzo’s team committed careless turnovers. Michigan State were also dominated in the paint early in the game. But then, the Spartans showed the heart that turned an average offensive team into a Big Ten champion and now, an Elite Eight squad, with a second-half surge and a series of clutch buckets down the stretch that turned the tide. The big comeback win, unsurprisingly, caught the attention of many on social media – including NBA legend Magic Johnson – who spent three years at Michigan State between 1977 and 1979. “Great win by my Spartans to advance to the Elite 8,” he wrote on X, responding to Friday’s result. “At the end of the game, our defense and going perfect from the free throw line in the last two minutes of the game was the key to this victory. Izzo was overcome with emotion as he showed love to his March Madness squadGetty View Tweet: https://twitter.com/hashtag/MarchMadness?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw “I couldn’t be at the game today as I’m with my Dodgers getting my 17th championship ring here in LA, but I plan on being in the building on Sunday in Atlanta!” The Spartans will face the No.1 seeded Auburn Tigers next. While Coach Izzo was emotional after Michigan State’s Sweet 16 win, he also rebuked any idea of a grand celebration for reaching the Elite Eight. “The (Elite Eights) are great too, but go back to my statement from the beginning: We don’t put up any banners for Elite Eights,” he said. “We put up banners for Big Ten championships and Final Fours and national championships.” How to watch March Madness in the UK *If you click a link in this box we will earn affiliate revenue March Madness is one of the most exciting times of the year for basketball fans, with a total of 68 teams battling it out to become the Division 1 college champions. This year UConn have the chance to become only the second team ever to complete a March Madness three-peat, having emerged victorious for the last two years. talkSPORT will have the latest news on the tournament, but for UK basketball fans the way to watch is through Sky Sports. The broadcaster will be showing EVERY March Madness game through their Sky Sports + streaming service. Click here to sign up to a Sky Sports subscription, or read our article on the best Sky Sports deals available now.
Michigan State and their veteran coach have reached the Elite Eight.
The Spartans secured a gritty, come-from-behind victory over Ole Miss on Friday, edging out their opponents 73-70 in the Sweet 16 round of March Madness.
At 70-years old, Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo remains in a college game that’s in the midst of its most transformational chapter.
He is the longest-tenured coach in the Big Ten Conference, and has spent the last 30 years with the Spartans.
Izzo has seen it all, and led his team to victory in the NCAA Tournament back in 2000, but more recent NIL rules and the transfer portal have prompted many coaches in his age group to step away.
The veteran remains, though, and has rejected retirement talk in pursuit of a second national championship.
‘Mr March’ was court-side once again on Friday night, where he watched his team hold off the No.6 seeded Rebels to book their place in the Elite Eight.
After the game, Izzo was overcome with emotion while showing love to his squad after a big comeback win.
“I love these guys, you know?” he said, through tears.
“It’s simple, they don’t quit. We’ve been a second-half team.
“One of these days, we’re going to be a first-half team.”
There was little about Friday’s victory over Ole Miss that was TV-friendly.
The Rebels had a double-digit lead in the first half, as Izzo’s team committed careless turnovers.
Michigan State were also dominated in the paint early in the game.
But then, the Spartans showed the heart that turned an average offensive team into a Big Ten champion and now, an Elite Eight squad, with a second-half surge and a series of clutch buckets down the stretch that turned the tide.
The big comeback win, unsurprisingly, caught the attention of many on social media – including NBA legend Magic Johnson – who spent three years at Michigan State between 1977 and 1979.
“Great win by my Spartans to advance to the Elite 8,” he wrote on X, responding to Friday’s result.
“At the end of the game, our defense and going perfect from the free throw line in the last two minutes of the game was the key to this victory.
“I couldn’t be at the game today as I’m with my Dodgers getting my 17th championship ring here in LA, but I plan on being in the building on Sunday in Atlanta!”
The Spartans will face the No.1 seeded Auburn Tigers next.
While Coach Izzo was emotional after Michigan State’s Sweet 16 win, he also rebuked any idea of a grand celebration for reaching the Elite Eight.
“The (Elite Eights) are great too, but go back to my statement from the beginning: We don’t put up any banners for Elite Eights,” he said.
“We put up banners for Big Ten championships and Final Fours and national championships.”
How to watch March Madness in the UK
*If you click a link in this box we will earn affiliate revenue
March Madness is one of the most exciting times of the year for basketball fans, with a total of 68 teams battling it out to become the Division 1 college champions.
This year UConn have the chance to become only the second team ever to complete a March Madness three-peat, having emerged victorious for the last two years.
talkSPORT will have the latest news on the tournament, but for UK basketball fans the way to watch is through Sky Sports. The broadcaster will be showing EVERY March Madness game through their Sky Sports + streaming service.
Click here to sign up to a Sky Sports subscription, or read our article on the best Sky Sports deals available now.
