CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — In a dramatic turnaround from his recent disappointment, Michigan State coach Tom Izzo celebrated a historic victory as his team overcame a first-half deficit to win against Illinois 79-65 on Saturday night. This victory marked Izzo’s 354th career triumph in Big Ten play, surpassing the previous record of 353 held by former Indiana coach Bob Knight.
“What a win,” Izzo reflected, expressing the stark contrast between their last encounter, which was a disheartening loss to Indiana. He described that defeat as one of the toughest moments in his coaching career because of the way his team performed. “To pull ourselves off the ground after that loss and secure a victory in this manner after trailing by 16 points is simply incredible,” he added.
Tom Izzo shares a mutual respect with Illinois coach Brad Underwood, with the two frequently in touch. However, the sting of the loss to Michigan State was palpable for Underwood, who saw his team outscored 42-24 in the second half. Michigan State sealed their victory with a strong 15-point run in the last 8.5 minutes of the match. “It stinks,” said Underwood candidly about the result.
In a slightly offbeat turn of events, former Illinois standout Terrence Shannon Jr. had his No. 1 jersey honored during halftime, but accidentally hung upside down. Following the game, he made a point to visit the Michigan State locker room to congratulate Izzo. Izzo appreciated the gesture, stating, “That was really classy. I told Terrence if he hadn’t played here, I’d have done it a lot sooner.”
Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman later expressed regret over the incident surrounding Shannon’s jersey. He commented, “It’s a shame that it happened that way… We need to ensure these mistakes are corrected, especially in moments that mean so much.” He also issued apologies to Shannon, his mother, and the fans who attended the game.
Adding to the night’s significance, freshman Jase Richardson, son of former Spartan star Jason Richardson from the 2000 NCAA championship team, scored 11 points. Jase is the first offspring of a previous player under Izzo to join the team. Izzo achieved a milestone earlier in the week, tying Knight’s record with a comeback against Oregon. Their previous game against Indiana highlighted the challenges, with Izzo acknowledging that both players and coaches fell short.
Now in his 30th season, Izzo holds an impressive record of 354-173 within the Big Ten, as well as an overall coaching record of 727-300 since taking the helm of the Spartans in 1995. Celebrating his 70th birthday recently, he stands as a legendary figure in college basketball. His accolades include 26 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, eight Final Four visits, and multiple titles within the conference.
Izzo, who was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016, noted that he would trade the record for two additional NCAA Tournament championships, reflecting on the legacy of Knight, who had a storied career at Indiana.
