Defend. Rebound. Run. That Tom Izzo mentality has been instilled in the Michigan State basketball program for years, and most of his teams have been receptive to that attitude.
But for a few years, that toughness was lost a little bit. The Spartans still defended well and rebounded at a high level and had a strong fast-break offense, but that toughness and “dawg” mentality was missing from too many players. There have been exceptions, but there hasn’t been a true “vintage” Izzo team since Cassius Winston.
Last year’s team got back to that old Izzo mentality, and that’s why it was able to win the Big Ten by three games and make the Elite Eight.
This year’s team, however, may have embraced that Izzo toughness more than any team since Cassius and Xavier Tillman were leading the Spartans to a Final Four. Those teams were tough and out-hustled just about everyone, but this year’s team has that same feel.
Better yet, it also has an elite point guard who exudes toughness leading the way.
This is a vintage Izzo team, and that’s the best news possible for fans. This team has everything you need to make a run in March: an stingy defense, an elite point guard, toughness, depth, and 8-10 guys who are all willing to rebound the basketball. No one takes plays off and even when they’re up 30, players are diving on the floor for loose balls. The Izzo teams of old did that.
And that’s what made Izzo so successful from 1999 until about 2019. For 20 years, with some exceptions, the Spartans played vintage Tom Izzo basketball. That got lost a bit after COVID.
Getting back to that mentality is going to do nothing but boost the program back to where it should be: at the top of the Big Ten.
The last time Michigan State had this elite of a defense and point guard, rebounded this well, and had a team this close, banners were hung. Last year’s team started that bounce-back, and this year’s team seems to be taking it to another level.
Folks, Izzo still has his fastball, and his players have all bought in.