From 2021-2024, Michigan State was no stranger to disappointing performances. Tom Izzo was called “washed” by many because the Spartans weren’t playing good ball, contrary to what the fight song says.
The team was sneaking into the NCAA Tournament for two of the four seasons, and the other two were just 7-seeds. Izzo’s fire has returned over the past two seasons, however. That North Carolina loss in the 2024 NCAA Tournament really lit a fire under the Hall of Famer, and he even proclaimed that he was going to get back to deep March runs or die trying.
With that return of Izzo’s fire, the elevated expectations come with it. Not just expectations from fans and the media, but expectations from Izzo and his players.
Everyone had gotten used to inconsistent, disappointing performances for about four seasons, but now those types of games are rare. And when they do happen, Izzo and the team call it out and voice their frustrations over poor play.
Even after wins.
Last year’s team had the right attitude and it led them to the Elite Eight after winning the Big Ten title by three whole games. This year’s team also seems to have the right attitude, taking a six-point win over 17-9 Ohio State very hard.
Michigan State has a championship mindset
Not many coaches or players will win a game by six after leading by double figures in the final two minutes against a potential NCAA Tournament team show visible frustration with the outcome afterward.
Michigan State isn’t most teams.
The Spartans knew they had an opportunity to build on the momentum accrued from the UCLA blowout against a short-handed Ohio State team, but they squandered that by playing sloppy, energy-less basketball to luckily sneak away with a win. It didn’t feel like a win, and that was the kind of attitude a few players and Izzo had after the game.
Sure, they were happy to get the win, but according to Izzo, they played horribly.
Izzo wasn’t the only one frustrated with the game. Jeremy Fears and Jaxon Kohler both voiced frustrations after the game and said that they needed to figure things out so they don’t keep happening.
This is the type of mindset that wins championships. A team wins a game against a solid opponent and it’s still angry with the way it played. These guys get it. They understand what it’s going to take to win championships and they’re entering March Madness with the right mindset.
These guys are winners. When they win, they’re unhappy that it wasn’t by more. When they lose, they work twice as hard to make sure it doesn’t turn into two or three in a row. What the Spartans lack in depth, they make up for in toughness and grit. This team is going to be a tough out in March.