The number 300 has a whole new meaning for Spartans fans.
Surrounded by MSU administrators, dozens of former Spartan basketball players and his family, MSU head coach Tom Izzo angled his head upward and focused his eyes on one of Breslin Center’s overhead screens. Izzo had just obtained his 300th win Saturday afternoon at the arena.
At that point, he was all smiles.
Then a video timeline played for all of Breslin Center to see, showing some clips of Izzo’s most memorable wins during the past 13 years as MSU’s head coach. It highlighted smaller wins and monumental victories, such as the 2000 national championship.
His eyes began to water as the clips flashed across the screen.
“That’s when I lost it a little bit,” Izzo said.
Seniors Drew Neitzel and Drew Naymick then unveiled a framed MSU basketball jersey with the number 300 across the chest.
Izzo choked up and his eyes continued to well.
“I think what I’m proudest of is not the 300 wins,” he said. “I was tickled to death that all those guys came back. I think I’m proudest of the fact that I don’t care where you look, we never backed down on our schedule.”
The widespread support moved Izzo.
He grabbed a microphone and thanked everyone involved for giving him the opportunity to carry the torch that is MSU basketball.
“These guys built it, we’re just renting it,” Izzo said.
Tur-NO-ver
It’s simple. For the past two games, things have been clicking for the Spartans.
And when that happens, turnovers generally subside. And during what many of the players called “revenge week,” that’s exactly what happened. MSU averaged six turnovers against Penn State and Iowa.
“If we can stay consistent like this, especially attitude-wise and in practice, we’ll be able to bring other guys with us and we’ll continue to improve,” Naymick said.
One of those ways to stay focused? The inspiration of former MSU athletes, which Izzo has talked about time and time again.
Mateen Cleaves, one of the former Spartans present Saturday, visited the team earlier in the week when morale was low.
“It wasn’t anything special,” Cleaves said. “It was just hanging out with them. It’s a family thing here. When I first chose to come to Michigan State, that was a reason. When I’d come here as a recruit, I’d see Magic Johnson, Steve Smith and Eric Snow. I’d see all those guys coming back, I knew there was something good about this program.”
Earvin “Magic” Johnson’s advice to play with a passion hit the team hard all week, Neitzel said.
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Because of it, he said he sees the team drastically improving.
“We got some things worked out, especially our turnover problems,” he said. “We’re shooting better from the line. Those are two big areas that when you go on the road, you have to do well.”
