Tom Izzo will go to desperate measures to make deep tourney run

Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo. Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Tom Izzo will go to desperate measures to make deep March Madness run

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated 3/25/24

Michigan State men's basketball head coach Tom Izzo felt a bit lucky to be in this year's tournament, but that doesn't mean he's content that his Spartans were bounced by North Carolina in the second round of March Madness 2024.

In fact, the longtime head coach sounded downright desperate after the loss when discussing his desire to once again make a deep run through the tournament.

"I'm gonna get back to a deeper run in this tournament, or I'm going to die trying," Izzo told reporters.

One of the many fired up quotes from Izzo after the game today. #MSU @wilxTV

"I'm gonna get back to a deeper run in this tournament, or I'm going to die trying." pic.twitter.com/tHhqQgOyCm
— Seth Wells (@SethWellsTV) March 24, 2024

That's a quote right out of an action movie, but it's worth noting that Izzo does have plenty of reason to feel desperate.

He's an MSU and college basketball legend, without a doubt. He's been the head coach in East Lansing since 1995 and he has made the NCAA Tournament every year since 1996-97.

With that said, his Spartans haven't made a run to the Final Four since 2018-19, though, and his lone championship was at the turn of the century. It's been 24 years since Michigan State cut down the banners, and with another early exit in the tournament, the Spartans will have to wait at least one more year.

It's one thing to be a legend and it's another to rest on your laurels. MSU fans have to be disappointed in the Spartans' 85-69 loss to UNC, but at least they can take hope in the fact that Izzo in no way seems content with the state of his program.

Can he turn it around? Now, that's the question.

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