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Michigan State Basketball: 2019-20 keys to beat Virginia Tech in Maui Invitational

By Austin Walther

EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 18: Gabe Brown #44 of the Michigan State Spartans dunks the ball during the second half against the Charleston Southern Buccaneers at Breslin Center on November 18, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 18: Gabe Brown #44 of the Michigan State Spartans dunks the ball during the second half against the Charleston Southern Buccaneers at Breslin Center on November 18, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
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EAST LANSING, MI – NOVEMBER 18: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans smiles during the second half of the game against the Charleston Southern Buccaneers at Breslin Center on November 18, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI – NOVEMBER 18: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans smiles during the second half of the game against the Charleston Southern Buccaneers at Breslin Center on November 18, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

1. Tom Izzo

For starters, let’s talk about the guy that has been the head man in East Lansing since 1995. The Yooper himself, Tom Izzo. I’m not taking anything against what Mike Young did at Wofford. He took the Terriers to five NCAA Tournaments and had a hell of a team last season that won a game. But Izzo is one of the greatest college basketball coaches off all-time. Say what you want about only winning one title, but he hasn’t missed the Tournament since 1998 and the guy has a ton of wins at Michigan State.

Izzo was an assistant from 1983-1994 at Michigan State. He took over as head coach and within five years, he won a National Championship. Fast-forward 25 years, he has won Big Ten Coach of the Year three times, been in the final four eight and the only two seasons in which he missed the Tournament was his first two. Most coaches these days with a lot of success have controversies and enemies, but he has never been convicted so those numbers speak for themselves.

Izzo develops wonderful relationships with all of his players. Each player has a father-son bond with Izzo. He brings out the passion in them. There may be times where he is a little too aggressive with his players, but the players know it’s just what competitors do. You can see him getting emotional during senior night or when a guy gets hurt. Most recently, his bond with Cassius Winston is evident. Izzo got Winston to stick around for his senior year and win a championship. Izzo has a ton of experience and knows that Winston is one of the greatest players he has ever coached.

The recruiting classes may not always be as flashy as some, but the way he takes his time coaching each player is what makes Izzo and Michigan State so successful. Izzo has coached in so many different Tournament settings that this one isn’t going to be any different. Young did some great things at Wofford, but it’s just his first year rebuilding Virginia Tech. Izzo has a culture at Michigan State that rivals anyone.

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