Michigan State Head Coach Tom Izzo made history Saturday night by notching his 354th career Big Ten win. He passed former Indiana Head Coach Bob Knight for the most wins in conference history. The Spartans defeated the Illinois Fighting Illini on the road 79-65.
Izzo has had a tremendous tenure with Michigan State. He has been to the NCAA Tournament for 26 consecutive years, made eight Final Four trips, and won the 2000 National Championship. Izzo was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016. He has a career record of 727-300 in East Lansing. He is 23rd all-time in wins in men’s college basketball. Will Izzo and Michigan State be able to keep it going this season?
Michigan State Season Summary
With win No. 354, Tom Izzo passes legend Bob Knight as the winningest coach in Big Ten conference wins 🙌 @MSU_Basketball pic.twitter.com/HVL85SLJht
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) February 16, 2025
The Spartans were ranked No. 11 in the most recent AP Top 25. Izzo had the chance to break the record at home Tuesday against Indiana, but the Spartans played miserably. Michigan State is 20-5 this season. They are 11-3 in the Big Ten and half a game behind the Michigan Wolverines for first place in the conference.
Izzo’s squad is 63th in the nation in points per game and 89th in field goal percentage. They are also one of the worst three-point shooting teams in the country. Their terrible three-point shooting could come back to bite them in the conference tournament and NCAA Tournament.
Michigan State’s defense has been the stronger part of its team this season. They are 61st in opposing points per game, 20th in opposing field goal percentage, and eighth-best at defending the three-pointer. As is the case with Izzo’s teams they will lead with their defense and hope their offense can play at a competent level.
Final Thoughts
Michigan State begins a brutal part of its schedule with four straight games against ranked teams. That tough stretch begins when they host No. 7 Purdue and visit No. 20 Michigan on Friday. Izzo and the Spartans will look to continue what has been a great regular season and carry it into postseason play.
