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Michigan State’s Tom Izzo Closing in on Big Ten Wins Record

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Few coaches could stick around at one school, especially in this ever-changing college basketball landscape. Michigan State has had the same head coach for thirty years now. That is none other than the great Tom Izzo. The Hall of Famer is quickly approaching a record that has existed for over two decades. That would be the all-time Big Ten wins record which has been long held by the late Bobby Knight. Knight famously led the Indiana Hoosiers from 1971 until 2000.

In leading the Hoosiers for that long, Knight was able to reach 353 career Big Ten victories. That record has all of a sudden become very reachable, as Izzo currently sits two wins away from tying it.

Michigan State’s Tom Izzo Closing in on Big Ten Wins Record

Like Knight, Izzo has been able to build a consistent contender with his Michigan State team. Sure, there have been some not-so-bright seasons as of late for the Spartans, but Izzo has been able to lead his team to the NCAA tournament 26 straight times. Not to mention that Izzo has had his teams competitive in the Big Ten nearly every year.

As Izzo has gotten closer and closer to Knight’s mark, it hasn’t truthfully been on his mind. In fact, in a recent interview with Fox Sports’ John Fanta , Izzo hadn’t even been thinking about it, after he got to win number 350 by beating Illinois.

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” You know, I’ve never really thought about it, and I’m not just saying that with humility. When I was coming up in this profession, it was Bob Knight, John Thompson, and Gene Keady that you idolized. To be in the same breath with a guy like that? Bob was great to me, and I have so much respect and admiration for him and what he’s done,” Izzo said. ” I look at it in a variety of ways. For starters, we play more conference games now than they used to, and secondly, I’ve spent one more year at my school than he did. If I’m lucky enough to accomplish it, it’s a great accomplishment. But all these records are different now because there’s nothing that’s exactly alike.”

Classic Izzo, he’s always been humble. That’s even with such a historic moment within grasp. Knowing him, he’d rather have some more banners to hang than hold the Big Ten all-time victories mark.

Spartans Once Again Competing for Big Ten Title

One thing is for sure, he’s got a squad this season. Sure, they don’t have one outstanding player. They have 10 good players, all working together as a unit. Sure, Jaden Akins is the leading scorer by average. That doesn’t mean players like Coen Carr , Jase Richardson, or even Jaxon Kohler can’t go out and get 12-14 points a night. This team has depth like none other.

Time will tell if it works out, but right now Izzo has his team in the driver’s seat in the Big Ten once again. A win in their home contest against a red-hot Minnesota team on Tuesday night can bring Izzo within one win of tying the record.

Tracking Tom Izzo’s Chase For The Record

Izzo’s Spartans were able to survive a hard trip to Madison Square Garden, as they held off Rutgers to reach their 17th win of the season, and that put Izzo at Big Ten victory number 351.

Looking ahead obviously, the team has to take care of business at home against the Gophers. A win there puts him at 352. They head out for a west coast trip to USC and UCLA, following their home contest.

How about that, wouldn’t it be special to either tie or break the record in the historic Pauley Pavillion at UCLA? Given the history of that arena, it would be a pretty special moment. He sure has come a long way, especially when his first Big Ten win came against the man he’s chasing.

Photo credit: © Dale Young-Imagn Images

The post Michigan State’s Tom Izzo Closing in on Big Ten Wins Record appeared first on Last Word On Basketball .