A somber Tom Izzo appeared in front of the media after a heartbreaking 67-63 loss to UConn in the Sweet 16, ending what looked to be a deep NCAA Tournament run for Michigan State.
The loss hurt because it meant that Izzo wouldn't be going back to the Final Four in the city where he won his lone national title. The Final Four being in Indianapolis felt like an extra incentive for Izzo to get back because he could win his second where he won that first. It would have been a poetic moment, but it wouldn't be an "ending" because Izzo's not retiring soon, per him.
The pressure was definitely on him to make it there this year, but no one expected that based on preseason expectations having predicted that Michigan State would finish in the 6-7 range in the Big Ten. The Spartans ended up having a pretty good team and they were in the top 10 for a good portion of the season, so a Final Four felt a lot more likely.
Unfortunately, the winnable East Region went to UConn who held on to beat a surging Michigan State who stormed back down 19 to take a late second-half lead.
Next year, however, all the pressure in the world is going to be on Izzo to get back to the Final Four in Detroit for the first time since 2008-09.
Tom Izzo wants to avenge his last Final Four loss in Detroit
The last time the Final Four was in Detroit, Michigan State made a run all the way to the national title game, falling just short at the hands of a loaded North Carolina team. He had a chance to win No. 2 less than 10 years after winning his first, and doing so in his home state.
North Carolina left no doubt in that 2009 national title game, crushing what would have been a storybook ending to that season for Michigan State.
Izzo wants to avenge that loss next year with the Final Four back in Detroit.
Michigan State is going to have Final Four hype in the preseason, especially if Izzo can land a starting-caliber center and keeps most of his roster in check, and with a chance to win No. 2 back at home, all the pressure is going to be on the Hall of Famer to get back to the big stage like he promised to do a couple of years ago.
The clock is ticking on his career, so Izzo needs to get to that Final Four in Detroit -- it could be his best remaining shot at No. 2.