Tom Izzo Extended Wild NCAA Tournament Record On Thursday

21/03/2024 22:12

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - APRIL 03: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans looks on during practice for the NCAA Men's Final Four at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 3, 2015 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Michigan State advanced to the NCAA tournament's second round with a 69-51 victory over Mississippi State. Thursday's win marked familiar territory for Tom Izzo.

The decorated head coach improved to 56-24 in March Madness games. Regardless of their seed, the Spartans are often tough to oust.

Chris Solari of the Detroit Free Press noted that Izzo extended his record with his 17th win as the lower seed. The No. 9 Spartans knocked out the No. 8 Bulldogs.

Most of those wins have come later in the tournament, but Michigan State also prevailed as a No. 9 seed in 2007 and 2017. Izzo took his No. 7 seed to last year's Sweet 16 and has led two No. 5 teams and a No. 7 to the Final Four.

The Spartans lost five of their last seven games entering the tournament, but they didn't leave any doubt about Thursday's outcome. They never trailed during a game in which they shot 50 percent (27-of-54) from the floor.

"I thought this was one of the better first game performances of a team that was, and deservedly so, seeded a little lower," Izzo said after the win, per Steve Reed of the Associated Press. "We brought everything from the get-go. We moved the ball well. We shot the ball well. We rebounded the ball."

Thursday also continued Izzo's success against the SEC. He's 9-0 in tournament play against the conference

Michigan State will likely need another victory over a higher seed to keep dancing. The Spartans will face No. 1 North Carolina if the Tar Heels hold onto their double-digit lead over Wagner.