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Tom Izzo admits he’s pulling for Michigan to reach Sweet 16
By Paul Harvey
Published:
Tom Izzo is no fan of Michigan State‘s in-state archrival. However, the longtime head coach made a stunning admission on Saturday.
He’s pulling for Michigan to reach the Sweet 16.
At Izzo’s press conference to preview the matchup vs. New Mexico, he was asked about the success of the Big Ten to start the NCAA Tournament. The league opened with a flawless 8-0 record in Round 1 and pushed the winning streak to 9 games with Purdue taking down McNeese State to reach the Sweet 16.
Izzo admitted he’s proud of the league he coaches in for that early-round success, pointing to the strength of the league:
“Yeah, I like to brag about it because I think sometimes the Big Ten just takes hits that — like we’re slow, or they think of what’s happened 20 years ago. So you guys either don’t do a good job or we don’t do a good job, or somebody is not doing a good job because the league is really good,” claimed Izzo. “It’s really good, and we’ve got really good coaches.”
How deep does Izzo’s affinity for the B1G go? Deep enough to get him to pull for Michigan with Dusty May’s squad facing SEC foe Texas A&M Saturday evening.
“Man, I’m pulling for them all. I’m going to have to go in the closet when I do it, but I’m going to pull for Michigan today, too. That’s not normal,” admitted Izzo. “But I really mean that. It’s good when our conference does well. I think it helps our conference in a lot of ways. I’m a Big Ten guy through and through, so I’m excited that we’re 9-0.”
While Izzo doesn’t mind boosting his league’s performance, Izzo also admitted that the entire idea of March Madness is now all about the matchups. That a key difference Izzo sees between football and basketball, but he doesn’t mind relishing in the bright spots for the B1G so far.
“Now, I will say this: Don’t get fooled that it’s this, that and the other thing. This whole tournament is about matchups more than it is about who’s the best team,” Izzo said. “Sometimes you just don’t match up with certain teams, and it causes problems no matter what their seed is, and sometimes teams get hot. It’s not like football where eventually you wear somebody down. The ball has got to go in the basket. The puck has got to go in the goal. Our two sports are different in that respect.
“But I’m happy for our league. Like I said, I’m a big Big Ten fan.”
Tom Izzo might be able to pull for the Wolverines this one time and get away with it but don’t expect the fanbases for either program to follow his lead. Michigan’s matchup with the Aggies can be seen on CBS with a trip to the Sweet 16 on the line.
Paul is a lifelong fan and student of all things college football. He has been covering college football since 2017 and the B1G since 2018.