While the green and white’s offense has been trending upward, Sunday’s contest proved how invaluable efficient defense and rebounding is, especially against a tough offensive team like the Golden Eagles.

“We’ve been knocking on the door,” Izzo said. “I think our guys know that we’re good enough, we’ve just gotta do some of those little things that we haven't been doing … if we can ever get our offense and defense together in this tournament, I think we will play another game.”

As the last team still dancing from the Big Ten conference, Izzo is honored to carry the torch for the conference. He’s heard from most coaches in the Big Ten wishing him and his team luck as he approaches the next round of the tournament.

“Nothing means more than Michigan State for me, second on the list would be the Big Ten conference,” Izzo said. “It’s been good to me, I've been a part of it, I believe in it and love the academic situation and fan bases we have in the Big Ten. There’s so many things we have here that are special.”

However, the Big Ten Conference is missing one important thing, and that’s a recent NCAA tournament title. The last time the conference earned a title was in 2000 when MSU acquired its second championship in program history.

The hall of fame coach anticipates that eventually, sometime soon, that’s going to change.

“Do I feel pressure? I feel pressure everyday,” Izzo said. “As they say, pressure is a privilege.”

Izzo credits the adversity that his team has dealt with and worked together to overcome this season. Whether that be working through the presence of injuries or learning from gutting losses, the team has united to conquer the various obstacles that this season has presented.

"These kids have gone through a lot, and I think they have rebounded pretty well," Izzo said. "They've all been through some things together ... and that is beneficial, I promise you."

For MSU’S 2022-23 roster, the transfer portal was a constant conversation in the preseason and early on in the midst of the nonconference schedule. Izzo emphasized that he doesn’t see any positives for the players with the portal. Although the portal benefited two of his most talented players, senior guard Tyson Walker and graduate student forward Joey Hauser, that’s not the case for everyone involved.

“Every place isn't for everybody and kids should have the freedom to transfer,” Izzo said. “When you give it to them with no responsibilities and no accountability, just do what you want when you want, I just don’t think it benefits them.”

With the lack of depth and experience especially in the middle, criticism circled on why Izzo didn’t pick up another big from the portal. Each time the question appeared, his answer remained the same, just as it did on Tuesday afternoon before the trip to the Sweet 16 — Izzo believed in his team.

“That’s my goal … to get a group of guys that believe in you and you’ve gotta believe in them,” Izzo said. “I proved my worth of them.”

As the veteran coach prepares for his 15th trip to the Sweet 16, he has a feeling his guys must’ve had some faith in him too. It goes both ways.

“There’s something that they believed in here,” Izzo said. “That’s the beauty of sticking together and if it carries us through the weekend, it will be one of the great life lessons learned. I know as a coach, I'm already appreciative but it would just be more special.”

MSU will tip off against Kansas State on Thursday evening at 6:30 p.m. at Madison Square Garden. The game can be streamed on TBS.