Michigan State Athletics Thrives as Izzo Leads Basketball to Historic Start

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State University’s winter sports programs are riding a wave of success, with Tom Izzo’s men’s basketball team leading the charge. The Spartans, ranked No. 8 in the nation, are off to their best Big Ten start in six years, boasting a 16-2 record and a 7-0 conference mark after a thrilling 80-78 victory over No. 17 Illinois on Sunday.

Izzo, in his 30th season as head coach, has guided a team that was picked fifth in the Big Ten preseason poll to the top of the standings. The Spartans have won 11 consecutive games, fueled by a deep roster with 10 players averaging 14-plus minutes per game. Senior Jaden Akins is the only player scoring in double figures, but the team’s balance has been its strength.

“We may not be as talented with a top 3-4 guys that just overwhelm you, but it’s been a talented group of 10 guys that have come together,” Izzo said. “We work really well together, we’ve worn some people down, and most importantly, we’ve done the things we need to do to win.”

The Spartans’ success extends beyond basketball. Adam Nightingale’s hockey team is ranked No. 2 nationally with a 19-3-2 record, while Mike Rowe’s women’s gymnastics team is No. 4 after a program-record crowd of 6,251 watched them defeat rival Michigan. Harry Jadun’s men’s tennis team upset No. 7 Kentucky and climbed to No. 17 in the rankings, and Robyn Fralick’s women’s basketball team is riding a three-game winning streak.

Izzo, a Hall of Famer and the longest-tenured coach in college basketball, has become a unifying figure for Michigan State athletics. “Tom loses himself in the university,” Nightingale said. “His leadership within the coaching ranks at our university is big-time. I think everyone looks up to him, and he’s kind of the guiding light.”

Izzo’s impact was felt even beyond the court last weekend. He consoled baseball coach Jake Boss, whose mother passed away, and connected star pitcher Tarik Skubal with current players. “That guy gets it,” Boss said. “He is here for the rest of us.”

As the Spartans prepare to face Rutgers at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, Izzo remains focused on the task at hand. “I’m just trying to take it one game at a time,” he said. “We’ve got a long way to go.”