Michigan State University Athletics
Spartans Make Seventh Final Four Appearance In Last 17 Seasons
4/1/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
| No. 7 Michigan State (27-11, 12-6) vs. No. 1 Duke (33-4, 15-3) | |
| Date | Saturday, April 4, 2015 |
| Time | 6:09 p.m. ET |
| Location | Indianapolis, Ind. | Lucas Oil Stadium |
| Television | TBS (Jim Nantz, Grant Hill, Bill Raftery, Tracy Wolfson) |
| Radio | Spartan Sports Network (Will Tieman, Gus Ganakas, Matt Steigenga) |
| Game Notes | Michigan State | Duke |
| Statistics | Michigan State | Duke |
| Live Stats | |
| Social Media | @MSU_Basketball  | Facebook  | Instagram |
| Full Coverage | 2015 NCAA Tournament Central |
THE OPENING TIP
Michigan State is making its ninth trip to the Final Four in school history, including its seventh under Tom Izzo. MSU's seven Final Four appearances in the last 17 seasons rank as the most in the nation. This is MSU's third Final Four in Indianapolis, including capturing the 2000 NCAA Championship.
THE STARTING FIVE
1. Seven Final Fours In 17 Years
Michigan State is making its nation's-best seventh trip to the Final Four in the last 17 years, all under head coach Tom Izzo. MSU is the fourth team (North Carolina, UCLA, Duke) to appear in seven Final Fours in any 17-year span, and just the third (North Carolina, Duke) since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985. Coach Izzo and Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski are the only two coaches to lead their teams to seven Final Fours in a 17-year span since the tournament expansion. Overall, the Spartans are making their ninth appearance in a Final Four (1957, 1979, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2015), good for the eighth-most all-time. MSU is 5-7 in Final Four action, having won the national title in 1979 and 2000.
2. Izzo And The Final Four
Tom Izzo's seven Final Four appearances rank tied for fourth all-time and tied for second among active coaches. UCLA's John Wooden and Duke's Mike Krzyzewski rank tied for first with 12 trips, followed by North Carolina's Dean Smith with 11. Rick Pitino and Roy Williams also have made seven trips to the Final Four. Since Tom Izzo became head coach in 1995-96, no other coach has made as many six trips. This is the third time Izzo has led an MSU team seeded No. 5 or lower to the Final Four, ranking first all-time (No. 5 seed in 2005 and 2010).
3. Trice Named East Regional MOP
Travis Trice was named East Regional Most Outstanding Player after averaging a team-best 19.8 points in four NCAA Tournament games, shooting .424 (25-59) from the floor, .406 (13-32) from 3-point range, and .889 (16-18) from the foul line. He's also averaging 38.5 minutes, playing 154 of 165 minutes, while averaging 4.0 assists. He's scored 24 points vs. Oklahoma and 23 vs. Virginia, as his 19.8 scoring average is the third-highest among Final Four participants.
4. MSU's NCAA Defense
Michigan State is one of the best defensive teams in the NCAA Tournament. The Spartans are holding four tournament opponents to a .339 field-goal percentage, ranking third in the tournament, and second among teams to play more than one game. MSU is holding opponents to .237 shooting from behind the arc, ranking sixth in the tournament and second among teams to play two or more games. As a team, MSU's 4.5 blocks per game rank tied for 12th and second among Final Four teams, led by Branden Dawson's 2.8 blocks per game, ranking eighth and first among Final Four participants. MSU has held its last six NCAA Tournament opponents below 40 percent shooting, dating back to last season.
5. Izzo With The Lower Seeded Spartans
Tom Izzo is 13-9 in the NCAA Tournament when Michigan State is the lower-seeded team. The 13 wins are the most all-time in NCAA Tournament history.
MSU VS. DUKE NOTES
About Duke
The Blue Devils finished in second in the Atlantic Coast Conference, with a 15-3 conference record. This is Duke's first Final Four since the 2010 season when the Blue Devils won the national title. That season, Duke was also the No. 1 seed in the South Regional and had to go through Houston. Freshman Tyus Jones was named the South Regional All-Tournament Team Most Outstanding Player. Freshman Justise Winslow joined Jones on the South Regional All-Tournament Team.
Coach Krzyzewski
Mike Krzyzewski (Army, '69) is the winningest coach in the history of Division I basketball with a 1,016-310 (.766) overall record in 40 seasons, including 943-251 (.790) in 35 seasons at Duke. Krzyzewski is one of only three coaches in NCAA history to win at least four National Championships (1991, 1992, 2001, 2010). His 12 Final Four appearances are tied for the most all-time. He has won 13 ACC Tournament Championships and 12 regular-season ACC titles. As head coach of USA Basketball, Krzyzewski led the United States to back-to-back gold medals in the Olympics (2008 Beijing, 2012 London).
Series History
Duke leads the all-time series against Michigan State, 9-2, including a 6-2 advantage on a neutral court. The last six meetings in the series, and eight of the last nine, have all been decided by 10 points or less. The Spartans' last win in the series was a 78-68 victory in the Sweet 16 of the 2005 NCAA Tournament in Dallas. Since then, Duke has won four straight. Duke is 3-1 vs. MSU in the NCAA Tournament. The two teams met previously in the Final Four in 1999, Izzo's first Final Four, with Duke winning, 68-62.
MSU Vs. Duke - Round One
Duke defeated Michigan State, 81-71, on Nov. 18 in the 2014 Champions Classic at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Quinn Cook led four Blue Devils in double figures with 19 points. Duke shot 54.0 percent from the floor and turned 13 MSU turnovers into 24 points. MSU shot 50.0 percent from the field, and held an 11-3 edge in second-chance points with a 35-25 edge in rebounding. However, the Spartans shot just .250 from 3-point range. Branden Dawson led MSU with 18 points and nine rebounds, but played just 29 minutes due to foul trouble, while fouls also limited Denzel Valentine (13 points) to 27 minutes. Duke led by just three points (51-48) after two Valentine free throws with 12:19 remaining.
Blue Devil Notes
Duke has had longstanding success in the NCAA Tournament, ranking in the top five all-time in NCAA Tournament appearances, games played and wins ... Duke is making its 20th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance ... The Blue Devils have played in 31 of the past 32 NCAA Tournaments under head coach Mike Krzyzewski and 39 times overall ... Freshman Jahlil Okafor is first in the nation in total field goals made (267) and second in field goal percentage (.668) ... As a team, the Blue Devils are third in the country in field goal percentage (.502) and fifth in scoring margin (+15.2).
NCAA TOURNAMENT NOTES
At His Best When It Counts
Tom Izzo ranks fifth among active coaches for the best NCAA Tournament winning percentage at .742 (46-16). Duke's Mike Krzyzewski ranks first at .768 (86-26), followed by Kentucky's John Calipari (.760, 38-12), Louisville's Rick Pitino (.746, 53-18), and Florida's Billy Donovan (.745, 35-12). Of those five, Izzo and Krzyzewski are the only coaches to appear in the last 18 NCAA Tournaments. In NCAA Tournament wins, Izzo (46) ranks fifth among active coaches, trailing just Krzyzewski (86), North Carolina's Roy Williams (65), Syracuse's Jim Boeheim (53) and Louisville's Rick Pitino (53). Izzo's 46 wins are the most ever for a Big Ten coach, and rank tied for eighth all-time with Lute Olson, one behind John Wooden (47).
Big Ten In The Final Four
The Big Ten has sent two teams to the Final Four eight times in conference history, the most for any conference. This is the fourth occurence since 1999, all with Michigan State as one of the participants. In 2005, Illinois and Michigan State both advanced to the Final Four. The conference also accomplished the feat in back-to-back years for the first time in Big Ten history in 1999 (Michigan State, Ohio State) and 2000 (MSU, Wisconsin). Big Ten programs have combined for 46 Final Four appearances, including seven in the last seven seasons and 10 in the last 11 years. Eleven of the conference's 14 programs have made at least one Final Four appearance
MSU's NCAA Streak
Michigan State is making its 18th-straight NCAA Tournament appearance in 2015. It is the longest current streak among Big Ten schools and third longest in the nation. Only Kansas (26) and Duke (20) have longer current streaks. In fact, MSU is tied with Indiana (1986-2003) for the fourth-longest of all-time, and the longest in Big Ten history. North Carolina has the longest streak of all-time with 27 consecutive NCAA Tournaments between 1975-2001.
Spartan NCAA History In Indianapolis
Michigan State is 7-2 all-time in NCAA Tournament games in Indianapolis, including 2-1 in the Final Four and 2-2 in Lucas Oil Stadium. In the 2013 Sweet 16, No. 2 Duke defeated No. 3 MSU, 71-61. In MSU's last Final Four appearance, Butler defeated the Spartans, 52-50, in 2010. In 2009, the Spartans advanced to the Final Four through Lucas Oil Stadium, beating No. 3 seed Kansas (67-62) in the Sweet 16 and No. 1 seed Louisville (64-52) in the Elite Eight. In its 2000 National Championship season, MSU topped No. 8 seed Wisconsin (53-41) and No. 5 seed Florida (89-76) at the Indianapolis-hosted Final Four. The 1979 National Championship team played in Indianapolis for the regional semifinals and finals, knocking off No. 3 seed LSU (87-71) and No. 1 seed Notre Dame (80-68), respectively. In their first NCAA game in Indianapolis, the Spartans beat Providence (77-63) in the 1978 first round.
Exclusive Company
Michigan State ranks sixth among all schools in NCAA Tournament winning percentage for teams with at least 20 tournament games. MSU's .700 winning percentage (63-27) trails only Duke (.752, 103-34), UCLA (.728, 99-38), Florida (.722, 39-15), Kentucky (.719, 120-47), and North Carolina (.718, 112-44). MSU's 63 tournament wins rank eighth in NCAA history and second among Big Ten schools, behind Indiana (64).
MSU In The NCAA Tournament
Michigan State is making its 29th appearance in the NCAA Tournament with an all-time record of 63-27 (.700). MSU has made nine trips to the Final Four (1957, 1979, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2015) and captured the NCAA Championship in 1979 and 2000.
2000 NCAA Champs - 15th Anniversary
The 2015 NCAA Tournament marks the 15th Anniversary of the 2000 National Champion Michigan State Spartans. MSU defeated No. 16 Valparaiso (65-38) and No. 8 Utah (73-61) in the opening weekend. In the Sweet 16, MSU used second-half rallies to beat both No. 4 Syracuse (75-58) and No. 2 Iowa State (75-64). As the lone No. 1 seed at the Final Four at Indianapolis' RCA Dome, MSU defeated No. 8 Wisconsin (53-41) and No. 5 Florida (89-76). Mateen Cleaves was named Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four, while Charlie Bell, Morris Peterson and A.J. Granger were also on the All-Tournament Team.
Izzo's NCAA Streak
Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo is making his 18th-straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament. It's the second-longest active streak in the nation, trailing only Mike Krzyzewski, who is making his 20th straight trip this season. The 18-year streak is the longest in Big Ten history by a head coach (15, Bobby Knight, Indiana, 1986-2000), and the fourth-longest in NCAA history. Only Dean Smith (North Carolina, 23, 1975-97), Roy Williams (Kansas/North Carolina, 20,1990-2009) and Krzyzewski have longer streaks.
Spartan Opponents In NCAA Tournament
Ten Michigan State opponents are in the field of 68 for the 2015 NCAA Tournament, including Big Ten foes Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Ohio State, Purdue and Wisconsin, and non-conference opponents Duke, Kansas, Notre Dame, and Texas Southern. Two of those teams are still alive in the Final Four. The Spartans were a combined 7-8 against the 10 teams entering the tournament, playing 15 of their first 34 games against tournament teams. Five of those 10 opponents earned a Top four seed.
Quick Turnaround Success
Michigan State's deep NCAA Tournament runs can be attributed to its success in quick turnarounds. Under Tom Izzo, the Spartans are a remarkable 21-4 in the second game of an NCAA Tournament weekend. All four losses have all come to No. 1 seeds or eventual National Champions. The .840 winning percentage is the best in NCAA Tournament history, ranking ahead of Mike Krzyzewski (.792, 38-10) and Dean Smith (.762, 16-5).
Two Titles Not Too Shabby
Michigan State is one of just 14 schools to have won two or more NCAA Championships. Cincinnati, Florida, North Carolina State, Oklahoma State and San Francisco join MSU with two titles. Only UCLA (11), Kentucky (8), Indiana (5), North Carolina (5), Connecticut (4), Duke (4), Kansas (3) and Louisville (3) have won more titles.
MSU NCAA TOURNAMENT NOTES
* Michigan State's defense is holding opponents to 61.2 points on .339 shooting, including just .237 from 3-point range.
* Three Spartans are averaging double-figures in scoring, including Travis Trice (19.8 ppg), Denzel Valentine (13.3) and Branden Dawson (11.0).
* MSU is averaging just 8.0 turnovers.
* The Spartans are shooting .388 from behind the arc, with Travis Trice (13-32), Bryn Forbes (9-17) and Denzel Valentine (8-23), shooting a combined .417 (30-72).
ELITE EIGHT NOTES - #7 MSU 76 - #4 LOUISVILLE 70, OT
* MSU improved to 7-2 in the Elite Eight under Tom Izzo.
* MSU rallied from an eight-point halftime deficit after Louisville had won 94 straight games when leading by six or more points at the half.
* Denzel Valentine and Travis Trice became the first Big Ten teammates to both record at least 15 points, five rebounds and five assists in the NCAA Tournament regional final or Final Four since Ohio State's Scoonie Penn and Michael Redd did it in 1999.
* After allowing Louisville to shoot 53.1 percent in the first half, MSU held the Cardinals to 20.0 percent shooting in the second half, as U of L scored just one basket in the half court, with that coming with just 3:38 remaining.
* MSU improved to 21-4 in the second game of an NCAA Tournament weekend under Tom Izzo.
* With 11 rebounds, Branden Dawson moved into seventh place in MSU history with 895 career boards.
* MSU played its eighth overtime game of the season, improving to 3-5.
* MSU improved to 4-1 under Tom Izzo in Elite Eight games in which it trailed at halftime.
SWEET 16 NOTES - #7 MSU 62 - #3 OKLAHOMA 58
* MSU improved to 9-4 in the Sweet 16 under Tom Izzo.
* Tom Izzo recorded his 12th NCAA Tournament win as a lower seed (12-9), marking the most in tournament history.
* Denzel Valentine became the 48th Spartan to score 1,000 career points.
* Valentine and Travis Trice combined to score 27 points in the second half, the same point total as Oklahoma after the break.
* MSU shot just .563 from the foul line, but Trice and Valentine combined to shoot 6-of-6 in the final 1:19 to secure the victory.
* Branden Dawson's 11 rebounds were a personal best in NCAA Tournament play.
* MSU committed a season-low five turnovers, including just one in the second half, marking the fewest by the Spartans since committing five vs. Michigan on Jan. 25, 2014, and the fewest in an NCAA Tournament game since committing five vs. North Carolina in the 1998 Sweet 16.
THIRD ROUND NOTES - #7 MSU 60 - #2 VIRGINIA 54
* MSU advanced to the Sweet 16 for the fourth straight season and a nation's best seventh time in the last eight years.
* MSU improved to 15-4 in the round of 32 since the tournament expanded to 64.
* Tom Izzo improved to 13-1 in round of 32 games, the best winning percentage (.929) in NCAA Tournament history.
* MSU improved to 20-4 in the second game of an NCAA Tournament weekend under Tom Izzo.
* MSU's defense held Virginia to .298 shooting, marking the Cavaliers' lowest percentage of the season.
* With four blocks, Branden Dawson tied the second-best single-game effort for a Spartan in NCAA Tournament history and also moved into second place in MSU career blocks.
* The Spartan senior class joined the 2001 senior class with four straight trips to the Sweet 16.
* MSU set season lows with 17 field goals and 40 field-goal attempts, and season highs with 20 free throws and 33 free-throw attempts.
SECOND ROUND NOTES - #7 MSU 70 - #10 GEORGIA 63
* Michigan State became the ninth school to win 60 NCAA Tournament games.
* MSU improved to 14-4 in the opening game of the NCAA Tournament under Tom Izzo, and 23-6 overall.
* MSU improved to 9-1 all-time against current members of the SEC in the NCAA Tournament, including 7-0 under Tom Izzo.
* Tom Izzo passed Bob Knight for most NCAA Tournament wins by a Big Ten coach with 43 victories.
* With a team-high 16 points, Denzel Valentine scored in double figures for the first time in eight NCAA Tournament games.
* MSU improved to 11-0 when four or more players score in double figures.
* MSU held Georgia to 33.3 percent shooting, marking the third straight NCAA Tournament opponent to shoot below 40 percent vs. MSU. The 33.3 percent was the lowest by a Spartan opponent in the NCAA Tournament since Memphis shot .297 in the third round of the 2013 tournament.
* Bryn Forbes scored 14 points in his first career NCAA Tournament game, marking his most points since scoring 21 at Wisconsin on March 1.
* After playing just six minutes in the first half, Branden Dawson scored all 14 of his points and grabbed all six of his rebounds in the second half.
MSU BASKETBALL NOTES
Izzo's 20th Season
In his 20th season as Michigan State head coach, the 2014-15 campaign is Tom Izzo's 32nd year in East Lansing. An eight-time National Coach of the Year, Izzo has guided MSU to seven Big Ten Championships, four Big Ten Tournament titles, 18 straight NCAA Tournaments, seven Final Four appearances, and the 2000 NCAA Championship in his stint as head coach. He is MSU's all-time winningest coach with 495 wins, and is the longest serving active men's basketball coach in the Big Ten. The only high-major coaches with longer active tenures at one school are Syracuse's Jim Boeheim (39th season) and Duke's Mike Krzyzewski (35th season).
Izzo Moves Up Big Ten Coaching List
Tom Izzo ranks third on the career Big Ten victories list with 233. He moved into sole possession of third place with win No. 229 vs. Ohio State, passing former Purdue coach Ward Lambert (228 wins). Indiana's Bob Knight is the all-time leader with 353 Big Ten wins, while Gene Keady ranks second with 265 victories. In terms of most wins at a Big Ten institution, Izzo already ranks third with 491, trailing only Knight (661 wins) and Keady (512).
All-Big Ten Spartans
Three Spartans were honored when the All-Big Ten Teams were announced on March 9. Branden Dawson was selected to the second team, while also being named to the All-Defensive Team. Travis Trice and Denzel Valentine were both third-team selections. Trice was the MSU recipient of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.
Spartan Defense
On the season, MSU is limiting teams to 63.2 points on .393 FG%, including .316 from 3-point range. The Spartans lead the Big Ten in 3-point FG pct. defense, while ranking second in field-goal percentage defense and fifth in scoring defense. In conference games, MSU ranked second in 3-point FG pct. defense (.327), fourth in FG pct. defense (.412), and eighth in scoring defense (64.9 ppg). The all-time lows of the Izzo era were a .379 FG% in 2011-12 and .298 3FG% in 2001-02.
Taking Care Of The Ball
Michigan State is averaging 11.2 turnovers per game. That ranks as the lowest average of the Tom Izzo era, as last year's squad averaged 11.58 per game. MSU is averaging just 9.1 turnovers over its last 13 games, including seven games with eight or fewer.
Freshman Starting Point Guards
Tum Tum Nairn Jr. has started all four NCAA Tournament games at point guard for Michigan State, joining a select group of Spartans. Drew Neitzel (2005) and Kalin Lucas (2008) are the only other freshman point guards to start for Tom Izzo in the NCAA Tournament. The only other freshman to start at the point for the Spartans in the NCAA Tournament is Magic Johnson (1978). Nairn will join Neitzel as the only two to start in a Final Four.
Dawson In The Postseason
Over the last two years, Branden Dawson has scored in double figures in 11 of 14 Big Ten and NCAA Tournament games in 2014 and 2015. Over the 14 games, he's averaging 14.4 (201) points and 8.4 (117) rebounds, while shooting .603 (85-141) from the field. Last year, he averaged 16.3 points and 8.8 rebounds in four NCAA Tournament games. This year, he's averaging 11.0 points and 9.3 rebounds. For his career, he's averaging 11.0 points and 7.8 rebounds in 11 NCAA Tournament games.
Surging Spartans
Michigan State is playing its best basketball at the right time of the season. MSU has won 12 of its last 15 games, with just three of those games being played at home. The Spartans have won eight of their last nine games against nine teams that each made the 2015 NCAA Tournament. Each of MSU's last nine wins have been by single digits, as the Spartans have not won a game by double figures since Feb. 17 at Michigan (80-67).
Trice's Late Surge
Senior Travis Trice is playing some of the best basketball of his career in his final stretch run as a Spartan. Over the last 15 games, Trice is averaging a team-best 18.2 points and 4.3 assists, including shooting .390 from 3-point range. In the last 13 games, he's averaging 19.1 points and 4.4 assists. Before the regular-season game at Wisconsin, Trice had assumed the role of a Morris Peterson and Draymond Green, former Spartans that starred off the bench. In five games off the bench, Trice averaged 17.2 points and 5.8 assists.
MSU In March
Michigan State is 88-35 (.715) in March since the 1998-99 season. For his career, Tom Izzo is 95-42 (.693) in March. Over the last six-plus years (2009-present), MSU is 42-15 (.737) in what Coach Izzo calls his favorite month of the year. Izzo is 3-3 in April.
Spartans Share The Ball
MSU is averaging 16.7 assists per game, leading the Big Ten and ranking fifth in the nation, recording an assist on 64.1 percent of its baskets. The 16.7 average is the fifth-best of the Izzo era. The 636 assists this season rank as the second-best single-season total in school history, just one behind 2013-14 (637). In 16 games, MSU has recorded an assist on more than 70 percent of its baskets.
Valentine Regains The Outside Touch
In 13 non-conference games, Denzel Valentine shot .500 (35-70) from 3-point range. In the first eight conference games, he shot just .289 (13-45), making two or more 3-pointers in just four games, including just two with more than two. Beginning with the first Michigan contest, he's shooting .405 (49-121) over the last 17 games, hitting four or more 3-pointers in eight of the last 17 games, including five vs. Ohio State and seven vs. Minnesota.
It's All About Boardwork
Michigan State owns a Big Ten-best +5.6 rebounding margin, ranking 25th in the nation, having out-rebounded 27 of 38 opponents. In the Tom Izzo era, MSU has out-rebounded 532 of 693 opponents (.768), posting a 420-112 (.789) mark in those games. The Spartans have led the nation in rebounding in four of the last 15 seasons (2000, 2001, 2009, 2010), ranking in the Top 10 nine times and the Top 25 on 12 occasions. Including this season, MSU has led the Big Ten in rebounding margin in conference games in 12 of the last 18 years and in 13 of 20 seasons under Tom Izzo.
Dawson Climbs Rebounding Chart
Branden Dawson is on pace to finish among the all-time leaders in Michigan State career rebounding. With 895 career boards, he stands in seventh place in MSU history, 11 behind Mike Peplowski (906 rebounds) in sixth place.
Valentine Deadly From Behind The Arc
With 97 made 3-pointers, Denzel Valentine ranks tied with Drew Neitzel (97, 2007-08) for third on the MSU single-season chart, standing 17 behind Drew Neitzel (114, 2006-07).
Spartan Seniors
Spartan seniors Branden Dawson, Travis Trice and Keenan Wetzel were honored in a ceremony following MSU's game vs. Purdue. Over the last three-plus seasons, the Spartans have posted a 112-37 mark, advanced to one Final Four, four straight NCAA Tournaments, including becoming just the second Spartan senior class (2001) to appear in four Sweet 16s, captured two Big Ten Tournament crowns (2012, 2014) and the 2012 Big Ten regular-season championship. The 112 wins tie the class of 2002 as the second-winningest class in MSU history, behind the class of 2001 (115 wins)
Dawson's Double-Doubles
Branden Dawson posted double-doubles in eight Big Ten games (Indiana, at Iowa, at Maryland, Penn State, at Rutgers, Michigan, Ohio State, at Michigan), leading all Big Ten players in conference games. Against Nebraska, he grabbed 18 rebounds, a personal best against a Big Ten opponent. Dawson grabbed double-figure rebounds in 11 conference games, averaging a Big Ten-best 9.8 rebounds per game in Big Ten play (9.3 rpg overall). He has nine double-doubles this season and 21 for his career.
Valentine's Versatility
Denzel Valentine is arguably the most versatile player in the Big Ten and the numbers provide the evidence. The Spartan junior is the only player to rank in the Top 15 in the Big Ten in scoring (13th), rebounding (13th) and assists (6th). He also ranks in the Top 15 in 3-point field-goal percentage (10th), 3-point field goals made (2nd), assist-to-turnover ratio (8th) and defensive rebounds (6th).
Dawson In Elite Group
Branden Dawson and Draymond Green are the only players in Michigan State history to rank in Top 10 in Spartan career rebounds, blocks and steals. Dawson currently ranks second in blocks (140), seventh in steals (161) and seventh in rebounds (895). In addition, Dawson is tied with Raymar Morgan for fifth in MSU history with 120 starts.
Dawson Attacks The Glass
Branden Dawson leads the Big Ten in rebounding at 9.1 boards per contest. In conference games, he averaged a Big Ten-best 9.8 rebounds, recording double-figure rebounds in 11 conference games. Twice this season, he's grabbed a career-high 18 rebounds - at Nebraska and at Notre Dame. The 18 rebounds are tied for the most by a Spartan since Goran Suton grabbed 20 vs. Oakland in 2007. Dawson's nine offensive rebounds against the Irish are tied for the third-best single-game effort in MSU history (since 1986-87). The 18 rebounds at Nebraska mark a personal best against a Big Ten opponent. Should Dawson continue to lead the Big Ten in rebounding, he'll be the first player 6-6 or shorter to do it since Wisconsin's Patrick Tompkins in 1991 (overall). He's already the first to do it in conference games since Minnesota's Richard Coffey in 1988.
Tum Tum In The Starting Lineup
Lourawls "Tum Tum" Nairn Jr. has started 16 games this season, including the last 15. In his starts, Nairn is averaging 2.7 points, 1.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 23.8 minutes per contest. More impressively, MSU is 13-3 when Nairn starts. When Nairn starts, MSU has a 1.7 assist-to-turnover ratio and averages just 9.4 turnovers per game, compared to a 1.4 assist-to-turnover ratio and 12.5 turnovers when he doesn't.
MSU Attacks The Offensive Glass
In Big Ten play, Michigan State averaged a Big Ten-best 11.7 offensive rebounds per contest. The Spartans grabbed 34.1 percent of their missed shots in conference games, ranking third in the Big Ten. MSU averaged 12.4 second-chance points in Big Ten play, outscoring opponents by +4.0 points per game. Overall, MSU ranks fourth in the Big Ten in offensive rebounds (11.2 orpg) and fourth in offensive rebound percentage (.337). The Spartans average 11.4 second-chance points, outscoring opponents by +2.4 points per game.
Dawson's Defense
Branden Dawson was named to the Big Ten All-Defensive Team, as his strength and athleticism give him the versatility to guard nearly any position on the floor. He is one of two players to rank in the Top 15 in the Big Ten in steals (14th, 1.2 spg), blocks (t-4th, 1.6 bpg) and defensive rebounds (2nd, 6.2 drpg). In conference games, he ranked 10th in steals (1.2 spg), second in blocks (2.1 bpg) and second in defensive rebounds (6.6 drpg).
A Hall Of Fame Coach
On Thursday, Feb. 12, Tom Izzo was formally inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame at MotorCity Casino Hotel in Detroit. The rest of the class included recently retired New York Yankees great and Kalamazoo-raised Derek Jeter (not in attendance due to flight issues), Detroit Red Wings forward Sergei Fedorov, University of Michigan All-American and Cincinnati Reds shortstop Barry Larkin, NHL All-Star and Westland native Mike Modano, Livonia's four-time Olympian, and gold-medal winning swimmer Sheila Taormina and Aleta Sill, from Dearborn, the nation's first female professional bowler to reach $1 million in winnings. Detroit Lions All-Pro defensive tackle Doug English was also named in a special selection by the Hall's Legends Council. Izzo is also a member of the Northern Michigan, Upper Peninsula and the National Italian-American Sports Halls of Fame.
Keeping The 3-Pointer In Perspective
Michigan State is shooting .386 from 3-point range this season, good for the fourth-best percentage of the Tom Izzo era. But on-target shooting does not equal an over-reliance on the outside shot. MSU has attempted 743 3-pointers in 2,126 field-goal attempts, meaning 34.9 percent of its shots are from behind the arc. That percentage ranks as the second-highest percentage of the Izzo era, behind 2013-14 (36.3%). It's the sixth time in Izzo's 20 seasons that more than 30 percent of the shot attempts have been 3-pointers, joining the 2004-05 (32.8%), 2010-11 (32.7%), 2003-04 (31.2%) and 1999-2000 (31.1%) squads.
Balanced Scoring
Michigan State features a balanced scoring attack with three players averaging in double figures, and five averaging seven points or more. Six different Spartans have led the team in scoring in a single game, as eight different players have scored in double figures at least once. There have been six games in which five Spartans have reached double figures, two more times than all of last season. The Spartans are a perfect 11-0 when four or more players score in double-figures, and just 16-11 when three or fewer Spartans hit double-figures.
Spartans On Target From Deep
Michigan State is shooting .386 (287-743) from 3-point range this season, ranking second in the Big Ten and 31st in the nation. In conference play, MSU shot .368, ranking third. Individually, Bryn Forbes (.435) ranks fourth in the Big Ten, while Denzel Valentine (.411) ranks 10th.
All-Time Block Leaders
Branden Dawson is second in Michigan State history with 140 career blocks, just one behind Adreian Payne (141). Dawson ranks tied for fourth in the Big Ten overall (1.6 bpg) and second in conference games (2.1 bpg). With three blocks against Penn State, Dawson joined Draymond Green and Payne as the only players in MSU history with 1,000 career points and 100 career blocks. With 103 blocks, Matt Costello ranks sixth, three behind Delvon Roe (106 blocks) in fifth. As a team, MSU's 173 blocks are just one behind the single-season school record of 174 (2013-14).
20-Win Seasons
With a win over Purdue on March 4, MSU recorded its 15th 20-win season in the last 18 years, all under head coach Tom Izzo. Of the 23 20-win seasons in Spartan history, Izzo has been involved in 20 of them, 15 as a head coach and five as an assistant.
Trice From Distance
Travis Trice is positioned to end his career as one of the most prolific 3-point shooters in MSU history. Trice sits in sixth place in career 3-pointers (200), two behind Maurice Ager (202) in fifth. With 505 career 3-point attempts, Trice ranks fifth in MSU history, 27 behind Ager (532) in fourth. He is seventh in the conference in 3-point field goals made (2.3).
A Thin Line Between Victory And Defeat
In eight of Michigan State's 11 defeats, the Spartans have either led or been within a possession in the final minute of the contest, with five of the losses coming in overtime (one in double overtime). Against Kansas, MSU trailed by just three points in the final minute with possession of the ball. At Notre Dame, MSU led by six with under eight minutes left, before falling by a single point in overtime. In an overtime upset loss to Texas Southern, MSU led by eight points with eight minutes to play, and by six with under four minutes to play. In the Big Ten opener, MSU led Maryland by five with under five minutes to play and by four with under two minutes left in overtime, before losing a two-point game in double overtime. At Nebraska, MSU rallied from a 17-point second-half deficit to pull within three points and then two points in the final minute. Against Illinois, MSU trailed by three points in the final minute, with four free-throw attempts to take the lead, but could make just two, cutting the deficit to a single point. The Spartans then had possession of the basketball with a chance to take the lead but could not score. Against Minnesota, the Spartans led by six points in the final minute and couldn't close out the game, eventually falling in overtime. In the Big Ten Tournament Championship Game, MSU led Wisconsin by 11 points with 7:45 left and by two points in the final 20 seconds before falling in overtime.
Valentine's Continual Improvement
Always known for his versatility, Denzel Valentine has worked hard to become a terrific shooter. After shooting .281 (16-57) from 3-point range as a freshman and improving to .377 (43-114) as a sophomore, Valentine is one of the best shooters in the conference this season. He ranks second in the Big Ten in made 3-point field goals per game (2.6) and 10th in 3-point field-goal percentage (.411; 97-236).
Trice Shares The Ball
Travis Trice ranks second in the Big Ten in assists (5.1 apg) and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.9), ranking 18th in the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio, leading the Spartans in both categories. With 192 assists this season, he stands in eighth place on the MSU single-season list, 11 behind Scott Skiles (203; 1985-86) in seventh.
Long Range Firepower
Michigan State is averaging 7.6 made 3-pointers per contest, ranking third in the Big Ten. Denzel Valentine leads MSU and ranks second in the Big Ten with 97 made 3-pointers (2.6 pg). The Spartans have made eight or more 3-pointers in 18 games, including eight games with 10 or more. MSU's 287 made 3-pointers and 743 3-point attempts are the second-highest single-season totals in school history. Only last year's squad had more makes (307) and attempts (783).
The 1,000-Point Club
Branden Dawson ranks 25th in MSU history with 1,297 points, needing 18 points to pass Durrell Summers (1,314 points). Travis Trice scored his 1,000th-career point vs. Ohio State in the Big Ten Tournament. With 1,119 career points, he ranks 39th in MSU history, 27 behind Pete Gent (1,146 points). Denzel Valentine topped 1,000 career points against Oklahoma in the NCAA Tournament. With 1,028 points, he stands tied with Kevin Smith for 46th place, 26 points behind Marcus Sanders (1,054 points). Bryn Forbes (1,237 points) has also eclipsed the 1,000-point career mark this season, although 905 of those came in his first two seasons at Cleveland State.
Free Basketball
Michigan State is 3-5 in overtime games this season, as the eight overtime games are the most the Spartans have ever played in a single season. Five of the overtime games have been played in East Lansing. The Spartans lead the nation with eight overtime games, and are the only team in the nation with five overtime losses. MSU entered the season having won seven straight overtime games, dating back to a loss to Minnesota in the 2010 Big Ten Tournament.
The Costello-Schilling Combination
Junior Matt Costello (7.0 ppg, 5.2 rpg) and sophomore Gavin Schilling (5.2 ppg, 3.9 rpg) have combined to give MSU a solid post presence. The two Spartans average a combined 12.2 points and 9.1 rebounds, shooting .580 (189-326) from the field.
Costello Off The Bench
Matt Costello started the first six games of the season, averaging 6.2 points and 7.5 rebounds in 20.2 minutes, shooting .593 from the field. He's come off the bench in the last 32 games, averaging 7.2 points and 4.8 rebounds in 20.6 minutes, shooting .576 from the field. Costello has posted two double-doubles on the season.
Dawson's Injury And Illness
Branden Dawson suffered a stable, non-displaced fracture on his left wrist after taking a hard fall in the Dec. 17 contest vs. Eastern Michigan. He missed MSU's next two games vs. Texas Southern (Dec. 20) and The Citadel (Dec. 22). He returned to the lineup against Maryland (Dec. 30), totaling nine points and 11 rebounds, while wearing a brace. He had the brace removed prior to MSU's second game vs. Maryland (Jan. 17). Earlier this season, Dawson missed the game against Santa Clara (Nov. 24) with the flu, and came off the bench vs. Rider (Nov. 27) and Marquette (Nov. 28) while recovering from the same illness. In the home finale vs. Purdue (March 4), Dawson took an elbow to the face and was limited to just nine minutes against the Boilermakers, and missed the following game at Indiana (March 7).
Bess Out Of Action
Javon Bess missed the first 10 games of the season while recovering from a broken right foot. He made his debut against Eastern Michigan on Dec. 17. His development was further stunted by a pair of sprained ankles suffered since the return from holiday break, limiting him to just 33 total minutes in the first four Big Ten games. He then started the next three games in Big Ten play, averaging 5.0 points and 3.0 rebounds in 18.3 minutes per contest, while bringing some toughness to the Spartan lineup. But pain returned in the foot, forcing him to come off the bench in two games. He has not played since Feb. 1 and has been ruled out for the season.
Double-Double Trouble
Five different Spartans have posted a double-double this season as Branden Dawson (vs. Notre Dame-16 pts., 18 reb.; vs. Indiana-14 pts., 13 reb.; vs. Iowa-14 pts., 15 rebs.; vs. Maryland-14 pts., 10 reb.; vs. Penn State-12 pts., 10 reb.; vs. Rutgers-17 pts., 11 reb.; vs. Michigan-19 pts., 10 reb.; vs. Ohio State-15 pts., 11 reb.; vs. Michigan-23 pts., 13 reb.) leads MSU with nine. Matt Costello (vs. Loyola-13 pts., 11 reb.; vs. Texas Southern-17 pts., 10 reb.), Gavin Schilling (vs. Santa Clara-14 pts., 11 reb.; vs. Penn State-11 pts., 10 reb.), Denzel Valentine (vs. Santa Clara-13 pts., 11 reb.; vs. Nebraska-21 pts., 11 reb.) and Travis Trice (vs. Northwestern-18 pts., 11 ast.; vs. Minnesota-21 pts., 10 ast.) each have two. For his career, Dawson has 21 double-doubles, while Valentine has totaled six.
Playing The Best
Since the 1997-98 season, the year of Michigan State's first of 18 straight trips to the NCAA Tournament, the Spartans have played 197 games against ranked opponents. That total ranks first among teams that have appeared in a Final Four since then. The Spartans are followed by North Carolina (182), Texas (173), Duke (170), and Kentucky (168). (Through games of March 29)
MSU's M.A.S.H. Unit
Michigan State has dealt with injury issues for much of the season. Freshman Javon Bess underwent surgery in late October on a broken bone in his right foot. After missing the first 10 games, he made his debut against Eastern Michigan. He played in the next 12 games but has since been ruled out for the remainder of the season. Sophomore Alvin Ellis III suffered a severe sprained right ankle after just three minutes against Navy and did not return to action until playing five minutes against Notre Dame. Junior Bryn Forbes did not miss any time, but he played with a brace on his left (non-shooting) hand while recovering from a broken bone for the first 10 games. Senior Branden Dawson missed MSU's game vs. Santa Clara with the flu, which also limited his minutes at the Orlando Classic. Against Eastern Michigan, he suffered a wrist injury that kept him out of action for two games. In the home finale vs. Purdue, Dawson took an elbow to the face and was limited to just nine minutes against the Boilermakers, and missed the following game at Indiana. In total, MSU has lost 36 games due to illness and injury for its rotation players.
Ranked Opponents
Michigan State is currently ranked No. 22 in the USA Today Coaches Poll and No. 23 the Associated Press Top 25 (March 16). Six Spartan opponents are ranked in the Top 25: Wisconsin (No. 3 AP/No. 3 USA Today), Duke (4/5), Virginia (6/6), Notre Dame (8/8), Kansas (10/11), and Maryland (12/12).
Wollenman Honored For Academics
Colby Wollenman has been named to the Capital One CoSIDA Academic All-District 5 First Team. The forward from Big Horn, Wyoming, owns a 3.98 overall GPA as a physiology (pre-med) major. He is joined on the All-District 5 First Team by Butler's Alex Barlow, Western Michigan's Austin Richie, Valparaiso's Alec Peters, and Xavier's Matthew Stainbrook.
Prep Teammates
Michigan State's roster features three pairs of high school teammates. Junior Denzel Valentine has been reunited with high school classmate Bryn Forbes, who spent his first two seasons at Cleveland State. The duo teamed to appear in three-straight Michigan Class B title games from 2010-2012, capturing the state championship in 2011 and 2012. Forbes transferred to MSU this past June, and later received a waiver from the NCAA allowing him to play this season. Freshmen Lourawls "Tum Tum" Nairn Jr. and Marvin Clark Jr. both attended Sunrise Christian Academy in Bel Aire, Kansas. They were teammates during the 2012-13 season, posting a 29-1 record, with Clark as a senior and Nairn as a junior. Clark then did a year of prep school at Sunrise Christian last season, while Nairn finished his high school career. Sophomores Alvin Ellis III and Gavin Schilling were teammates at Chicago De La Salle as juniors in 2011-12. Ellis graduated from De La Salle, while Schilling spent his final season at Findlay Prep in Nevada. In addition, although Branden Dawson (Indiana) and Travis Trice (Ohio) attended high school in different states, they were AAU teammates for SYF Players over the summer.
Spartans In The NBA
Michigan State leads all Big Ten schools with eight players appearing on NBA rosters this season. Gary Harris (Denver) and Adreian Payne (Minnesota) are in their rookie seasons after being selected in the first round of the 2014 NBA Draft. They join former Spartans Alan Anderson (Brooklyn), Shannon Brown (Miami), Draymond Green (Golden State), Zach Randolph (Memphis) and Jason Richardson (Philadelphia) in the NBA. Kalin Lucas (Memphis) signed a free-agent contract in November and appeared in his first career game on Nov. 19.
Spartans Sign Strong Recruiting Class
Michigan State signed three talented players to National Letters of Intent during the early signing period. Kyle Ahrens (G, 6-5, 195) led Versailles (Ohio) High School to the Ohio Division III state title game as a sophomore. He was averaging 22 points, seven rebounds as four assists as a junior before suffering a season-ending leg injury in the sixth game of the season. Deyonta Davis (F/C, 6-10, 215) is the 2015 Hal Schram Michigan Mr. Basketball Award winner. He averaged 15.0 points, 13.6 rebounds and 7.1 blocks as a junior at Muskegon High School, leading his team to a perfect 28-0 mark and a Michigan Class A state championship. He established a Michigan state high school single-season record with 199 blocks in 2013-14. Matt McQuaid (G, 6-5, 180) averaged 14.7 points and 5.7 rebounds as a junior at Duncanville (Texas) High School. He exploded during the off season, averaging 15.6 points in the 2014 Nike EYBL circuit, shooting 45.1 percent from 3-point range. ESPN.com's Jeff Goodman called him "arguably the best pure shooter in the country."
MSU VS. WISCONSIN NOTES
About Wisconsin
Wisconsin advanced to its second-straight Final Four for the first time in school history with an 85-78 victory over second-seeded Arizona in the West Regional Final in Los Angeles. UW opened the tournament by defeating 16th-seeded Coastal Carolina, 86-72, in the Round of 64, and eighth-seeded Oregon, 72-65, in the Round of 32 at CenturyLink Center in Omaha, Nebraska. In the Sweet 16, the Badgers topped fourth-seeded North Carolina, 79-72. Wisconsin earned the top seed in the West Region after winning the Big Ten regular season (16-2 record) and tournament titles.
Series History
Michigan State leads the all-time series with Wisconsin, 75-63, but the Badgers have won both matchups this season. The Badgers defeated the Spartans in Madison on March 1, 68-61, and in the Big Ten Tournament Championship game in Chicago on March 15, 80-69 in overtime. MSU has won six of the last nine and nine of the last 14. Tom Izzo is 24-19 in his career against Wisconsin. The teams have met one previous time in the NCAA Tournament, as the Spartans defeated the Badgers in the 2000 Final Four in Indianapolis, 53-41.
Coach Ryan
Bo Ryan (Wilkes, '69) is 739-227 in his 31st season as a collegiate head coach, including 356-123 in his 14th year at Wisconsin. Prior to his arrival in Madison, Ryan coached at UW-Milwaukee for two years (1999-2001) and at UW-Platteville for 15 seasons (1984-99), winning four Division III National Championships. His 739 career wins rank fifth most among active Division I head coaches. Ryan owns a 24-13 record in the NCAA Tournament, including two Final Four appearances (2014, 2015).
Badger Notes
Senior forward Frank Kaminsky, the Big Ten Player of the Year and first-team All-American, is averaging a team-best 18.7 points per game, which ranks third in the Big Ten Conference. The Naismith Trophy finalist scored 29 in the West Regional Final against Arizona and is averaging a team-best 22.8 ppg. in four games during the NCAA Tournament. Kaminsky is the only major conference player to lead his team in points, rebounds (8.0), assists (2.6 apg.) and blocks (1.4 bpg.) ... Junior forward Sam Dekker, a second-team All-Big Ten selection, is right behind Kaminsky during the NCAA Tournament, averaging 21.8 points per game, including 27 against Arizona; he's also second on the team in scoring (13.8 avg.) entering the Final Four ... Third-team All-Big Ten honoree Nigel Hayes also averages in double-figures (12.4 ppg.) for the Badgers ... Wisconsin leads the Big Ten in scoring defense (57.8 ppg.) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.7) ... This marks Wisconsin's fourth Final Four appearance in school history (1941, 2000, 2014, 2015) ... Wisconsin won the National Championship in 1941 ... UW has already set a school single-season record for wins in a season with 35 (previous: 31 in 2007-08) ... Wisconsin has played in 17 consecutive NCAA Tournaments, the fourth-longest active streak in the county and tied for the sixth-longest in NCAA history.
MSU VS. KENTUCKY NOTES
About Kentucky
The Wildcats are making their 17th Final Four appearance in school history and are looking for their ninth national title. The Wildcats enter the Final Four with a nation-leading 38-game winning streak. Their 38 victories this season ties a school and NCAA record. Kentucky went 18-0 in SEC play and is the only unbeaten team in Division I this season.
Kentucky vs. The Field of 68
Kentucky went 11-0 against teams that made this year's NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats defeated Buffalo, Kansas, Providence, Texas, Louisville, Mississippi, Georgia, LSU and Arkansas.
Common Opponents
The Spartans and Wildcats share three common opponents. Kentucky won at Louisville, 58-50, on Dec. 27 and defeated Kansas, 72-40, on Nov. 30. The Wildcats swept the season series against Georgia. The Spartans fell to Kansas at the Orlando Classic, 61-56, on Nov. 30. Michigan State beat Georgia and Louisville in the NCAA Tournament.
Series History
Kentucky leads the all-time series with Michigan State, 12-11. The Spartans lead the neutral-site meetings, 3-2. MSU is 5-2 against Kentucky under Tom Izzo. In the last meeting, No. 2 MSU defeated No. 1 UK, 78-74, in Chicago, in the 2013 Champions Classic. In 2003, Michigan State and Kentucky played in front of a then-world-record crowd of 78,129 at Detroit's Ford Field on Dec. 13.
Coach Calipari
John Calipari (Clarion, `83) is 635-177 in 23 seasons as a collegiate head coach, including 190-37 in six seasons at Kentucky. He arrived in Lexington in 2009 following nine seasons at Memphis, where he posted a 214-68 record. Prior to his stint with the Tigers, Calipari coached two-plus seasons in the NBA with the New Jersey Nets. His first head coaching job came at UMass, where he posted a 189-70 mark in eight seasons. He is making his sixth Final Four appearance and captured the 2012 NCAA Championship with Kentucky. Tom Izzo is 1-1 in his career against John Calipari. Calipari was named a finalist for the Naismith Men's College Coach of the Year; he won the award in 2006 and 2008.
Wildcat Notes
The Wildcats are making their second-straight NCAA Final Four appearance, including their fourth in the last five seasons ... Kentucky went 18-0 in conference play and captured the SEC Tournament Championship with a 78-63 win over Arkansas in the title game ... The Wildcats have won 60 of their last 62 games ... Kentucky is the first team to start the season 38-0 ... Junior forward Willie Cauley-Stein (9.1 ppg) and freshman forward Karl-Anthony Towns (10.1 ppg) garnered First-Team All-SEC honors ... Cauley-Stein was also named the SEC's Defensive Player of the Year and is a finalist for the Naismith Trophy ... Devin Booker (10.1 ppg) was named the SEC's Sixth Man of the Year ... Kentucky leads the nation in scoring margin (+20.8) and field goal defense (.351).
The Book On Tom Izzo
Coach Izzo
In his 20th year, Tom Izzo (Northern Michigan, '77) is 495-198 (.714), and 233-107 (.685) in the Big Ten, as the head coach of the Michigan State basketball program. He ranks as the winningest coach in Michigan State history, having passed his mentor Jud Heathcote with his 341st career victory on Nov. 28, 2009. In his 19 full seasons as a head coach, Izzo has captured eight National Coach of the Year awards, including the Clair Bee Award in 2005 and NABC honors in 2001 and 2012. In 1999, Izzo was named National Coach of the Year by Basketball Times, while earning similar honors from The Associated Press, Basketball News and the USBWA in '98. He also earned National Coach of the Year accolades from CBSSports.com in 2012. He earned Big Ten Coach of the Year honors in 1998, 2009 and 2012.
Among The Big Ten's Best
Tom Izzo's .685 winning percentage in Big Ten games ranks fourth all-time among league coaches with at least 10 years of service, behind Wisconsin's Bo Ryan (.717), former Indiana coach Bob Knight (.700) and Ohio State's Thad Matta (.688) and ahead of former Purdue coach Ward Lambert (.685). In all games, Matta ranks first at .761, followed by Ryan (.742), Knight (.734), Izzo (.714), Wisconsin's Walter Meanwell (.712), and Lambert (.709). With 233 conference victories, Izzo ranks third all-time.
Izzo Among Best Ever
Through his first 19 seasons, Tom Izzo won 468 games, ranking fourth in college basketball history for most wins by a college coach in his first 18 years.
Izzo's Coaching Tree
Three current Division I head coaches all served as assistants to Tom Izzo, including Tom Crean (Indiana), Brian Gregory (Georgia Tech), and Mark Montgomery (Northern Illinois). Stan Heath has been a head coach for 12 seasons, with stints at Kent State, Arkansas and South Florida. Mike Garland served as head coach at Cleveland State for three seasons and Stan Joplin, an assistant during Izzo's first season, spent 12 seasons as head coach at Toledo. Jim Boylen was head coach at Utah for four years. Doug Wojcik spent nine seasons between Tulsa and College of Charleston.
