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With UCLA headed to the Final Four, Tom Izzo reflects on First Four loss to Bruins
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A few weeks ago, Michigan State held a 14-point lead on UCLA in the first half. It appeared that the Spartans were about to do what Tom Izzo-coached teams do in March: win.
UCLA came back in a big way, forcing overtime and eventually pulling off a win in the play-in game. Michigan State’s season ended while the Bruins were about to make an incredibly run to the Final Four as a No. 11 seed.
Following UCLA’s 51-49 victory over Michigan in the Elite Eight, Tom Izzo can’t help but wonder what could’ve been if his team held on to defeat the Bruins. There’s a chance the Spartans might still be in Indianapolis right now.
“You’d be crazy if you didn’t think, ‘Wow, if we could have got that missed free throw, would we have a chance to be playing Michigan to go to a Final Four?'” Izzo said on WJR.
Tom Izzo on WJR this morning, talking UCLA's run: “You’d be crazy if you didn’t think ‘Wow, if we could have got that missed free throw, would we have a chance to be playing Michigan to go to a Final Four.'"
— Kyle Austin (@kylebaustin) March 31, 2021
Went on to say, though ,that he doesn't think MSU would have gotten past Alabama
— Kyle Austin (@kylebaustin) March 31, 2021
Per Kyle Austin of MLive.com, Izzo went on to say that he though MSU would’ve had trouble with Alabama.
Michigan State made a furious run at the end of the season to even earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament, extending its streak to 23 straight years. Wins over Illinois, Ohio State and Michigan late in the year helped the Spartans punch their ticket, despite a 15-12 record.
After seeing UCLA’s run in the tournament, the loss in the play-in game continues to hang over East Lansing.
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB