Michigan St. in new spot
Spartans need to win extra game vs. UCLA to advance
Michigan State and coach Tom Izzo are in an unfamiliar position.
Last time there was an NCAA Tournament, the Spartans reached the Final Four in 2019 — the most recent of eight trips under Izzo.
This time, Michigan State needed a late surge just to get into the Big Dance, and they’ll have to win an extra game, too. The Spartans (15-12) will face UCLA (17-9) on Thursday in a First Four matchup of No. 11 seeds in the East Region.
Izzo is just thankful to be playing, all things considered.
“You know and I know that three weeks ago nobody gave us a chance, including probably most of you and probably even me,” Izzo said. “We fought our way through, and that took some courage and guts, and I’m proud of them for that.”
It’s fitting that the Spartans will have just a little bit tougher road ahead than most qualifiers. Even in the most difficult of years, Michigan State faced extra challenges.
Izzo contracted COVID -19 early in the season, yet the Spartans opened with six straight wins. They started Big Ten play with three straight losses on their way to dropping nine of 13 overall, but they eventually bounced back late in the season with victories over Ohio State, Michigan and Illinois — which all finished in the top seven of the final AP poll.
Now, the Spartans will need to win Thursday’s matchup in West Lafayette to reach the final 64 and play No. 6 seed BYU on Saturday. That winner will face No. 3 seed Texas or No. 14 seed Abilene Christian on Monday.
Aaron Henry, a junior forward from Indianapolis, leads the Spartans with 15.3 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. Joey Hauser, another junior forward, averages 9.7 points and 5.7 rebounds. Senior guard Joshua Langford averages 9.6 points per contest.
Michigan State has had 11 players start at least five games. UCLA coach Mick
Cronin is impressed with how Izzo has made it work.
“He’s got a different kind of team this year because he’s played many, many different lineups — they can change at the drop of a hat and go with different guys, so there’s a lot of personnel for our guys to digest because they play so many guys,” he said.
UCLA counters with a trio of sophomore guards. Johnny Juzang has averaged 14 points per game in his first season since transferring from Kentucky. Jaime Jaquez Jr. averages 11.7 points and 6.0 rebounds, and Tyger Campbell averages 10.5 points and 5.6 assists.
Izzo likes how they play for Cronin.
“He’s got kids that have bought in, and I have a lot of respect for Mick and the way he has done it and doing it in an environment that’s not as easy to do it in,” Izzo said.