Photo: Kamil Krzaczynski ~ Imagn Images
EAST LANSING ~ Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo spoke with a reflective but determined tone ahead of the Spartans’ first‑round game against North Dakota State, weaving lessons from past tournament heartbreak into his preparation for the week. He didn’t shy away from acknowledging mistakes, saying, “We’re going to all take blame for it. And then we’re all going to be part of fixing it.” Whether breaking down missed defensive coverages or recalling the sting of previous upsets, Izzo emphasized that the NCAA Tournament demands near‑perfect focus. He reminded his players that no seed line guarantees anything anymore, noting, “You used to have a top two-, three-seed get you out of the first weekend. Now, it doesn’t even get you out of the first game.”
Izzo’s respect for North Dakota State was clear. He highlighted the Bison’s continuity and discipline, pointing out that 19 of the roster’s 27 Division I seasons have been spent at NDSU, leading to a team built on cohesion and shared experience. On film, he saw a group that “shares the ball, plays hard as hell, has good guard play, and looks like they get along.” When asked about facing forward Andrew Strickland, who played for former MSU assistant Dwayne Stephens, Izzo joked, “Hell, I am going to call Dwayne today and ask him if he wants to go with us.” But he quickly added that no scouting connection replaces execution, calling NDSU “a damn good team, out to prove a point to the world. And those are dangerous teams.”
PODCAST
March 16, 2026 ~ Chris Renwick, Jamie Edmonds and Steve Courtney chat with Michigan State Basketball Head Coach Tom Izzo. They discuss the Spartans’ 28th consecutive year in the NCAA tournament.
(CONTINUED) The veteran coach also discussed leadership, accountability and the psychological edge required in March. While he said his captains have done a solid job, he stressed that the standard must rise now: “Leadership is still needed, sometimes you need somebody bringing everybody together.” Izzo praised players such as redshirt sophomore guard Jeremy Fears for their basketball IQ and ability to elevate teammates, noting that internal accountability matters more than anything drawn on a whiteboard. Despite recent losses, he framed failure as preparation rather than setback: “Failing is good. It’s not good at the time, but you learn a lot from it.”
Even with his moments of humor, debating Niagara Falls or teasing about time‑zone excuses, Izzo made one thing clear: Michigan State is fully locked in on the task ahead. “We’ve got no excuses,” he said. He believes his team has the balance, scoring improvements and defensive potential to make a run, but only if they earn every bit of it, starting with a gritty, veteran North Dakota State squad hungry for an upset. As Izzo put it, “We should be ready to go for this tournament, I’m looking forward to it.”
