Is it a coincidence? Is it an omen of future events?

Yes. And yes.

After the Spartans’ 90-60 win against Valparaiso on Sunday, the tiebreaker likely will come this weekend when the Spartans head to Atlantic City, N.J., for the championship round of the Legends Classic.

“Three-forty-one,” Izzo said as he paused and reflected Monday. “Hopefully, I’ve got a lot more wins in there somewhere. Three-forty-one doesn’t do a whole lot for me.”

And, certainly, there will be dozens — likely hundreds — more. Heathcote made quite the stamp on the MSU basketball program, winning more than 300 games, a national championship and changing the face of the program forever.

But few likely would dispute Izzo’s body of work is superior.

He’s often regarded as a future Hall of Famer and one of the most prominent bodies at this institution. But it is high time Izzo be recognized for his absolute premium value as the most legendary, influential and successful coach to ever lead a group of MSU student-athletes.

On the hardwood, Izzo has a national title, four National Coach of the Year awards, five Big Ten regular season titles and has led the Spartans to 12 straight NCAA Tournament appearances, a current feat only three other schools can boast. And that’s the short list.

Off the floor, he has promoted an 84 percent graduation rate of players who complete their eligibility. He has produced a coaching tree that has touched different corners of the country and a multitude of conferences.

His brand is spread across campus, the state and even the world. His modest upbringing and rise to glory is an inspirational tale for many.

With all due respect to Heathcote, Duffy Daugherty, Joe Baum, Biggie Munn, John Kobs and Ron Mason, no coach has left a stamp on his respective program or the university the way Izzo already has.

At a National Signing Day press conference earlier this month, Izzo candidly spoke about his thoughts on where the program stands and his aspirations for its future.

It wasn’t out of ignorance or arrogance — maybe a combination of stubbornness and self-expectation — but Izzo appeared discontent with the program’s status and distinction as “elite.”

He echoed those thoughts this week.

“I want you to think this is an elite program and I’m half on you because you think it is an elite program,” Izzo told the media.

“There’s certain things I’d like to see in this program and I still don’t see. It’s getting closer all the time. From whether it’s the building packed all the time or players getting here to watch film all the time so they can be great pros — not just pros that go in and play a year. Whether it be them feeling like they want to play the game as much as their opponents every time. I’d like to get that consistency, no matter who’s on the floor, no matter who it is.

“I want to get players to understand the program is still bigger than each team. I guess right now I don’t feel we’re quite there yet and I don’t know if we know how to win as a fan base or win as players or coaches or to the level I’d like to see it done.

“Will we be satisfied? Unfortunately, probably not. Or, fortunately, probably not.”

Izzo wants to do things other schools rarely, if ever, do. He wants to win multiple consecutive national titles, dominate the conference and perennially recruit at a high level.

He wants to knock on the door of the blue-blood college basketball programs such as Kansas, North Carolina, Indiana, UCLA and Kentucky.

And he wants to consistently be mentioned in the same breath as the new-blood elite schools such as Texas, Duke, Connecticut and Syracuse.

Heck, the guy admits he wakes up every day with the fear of losing his job.

“A lot of things may happen to me in the next 10 years, but I don’t think one of them will be complacency and I don’t think one of them will be being happy with where we are,” he said.

“I do think our program’s great. I just want it to be better than great.”

Izzo still spoke with reverence Monday of the conversations he had at the Hall of Fame induction ceremony where Heathcote and fellow Spartan Magic Johnson were honored and the company Izzo kept there.

“You talk about proud to be somewhere,” he said. “How many times do you get to be at a Hall of Fame induction? And how many times do you get to have two people from the same university at the same one?”

In a few years, he might be the only Spartan inducted. But when Magic and Jud stand behind Izzo at the podium, it will be a repeat performance.

And MSU’s proudest son will receive the recognition he is due.

Joey Nowak is the State News sports editor. He can be reached at nowakjo2@msu.edu.