The banners hanging in Michigan State’s Breslin Center tell the real story of Tom Izzo’s legacy. But for all the wins, the Final Fours, and the decades of consistency, only one of those banners says what Izzo truly craves: National Champion. After securing his 58th NCAA Tournament win, tying him for fourth all-time with Jim Boeheim and John Calipari, Izzo wasn’t celebrating. He was looking up, and he wasn’t satisfied.
“I don’t see any banners hanging for those kinds of things,” Izzo said, according to a post on X by Fox College Hoops. “And I’m kind of a banner guy.”
That’s been Izzo’s standard for three decades at Michigan State. His 58 NCAA Tournament victories include eight Final Four appearances, but only one national title—back in 2000. He’s built one of college basketball’s most respected programs, but with each passing year, the weight of that single championship grows heavier. And as he watches contemporaries like Calipari and even the Pitino family rise and fall, his own hunger for another championship only intensifies.
Tom Izzo on tying Jim Boeheim for 4th most NCAA tournament wins:
“I don’t see any banners hanging for those kinds of things and I’m kind of a banner guy.” pic.twitter.com/fNuYpxvS9J
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) March 24, 2025
Izzo has outlasted legends. At 70, he’s still marching through March, leading Michigan State to its 27th tournament appearance under his guidance. Along the way, he’s taken down championship-caliber teams, including a familiar name: Pitino. Four of Izzo’s tournament wins have come against the Pitino family—twice against Rick’s son, Richard, and twice against the elder Pitino. Rick, now at St. John’s, watched from the stands in Cleveland as his son’s New Mexico team fell to Izzo’s Spartans. The Pitino dynasty, once dominant, had no answer for Izzo. Yet, for all the battles he’s won, the war for that next banner continues.
The latest win over the younger Pitino didn’t just send Michigan State forward—it cemented Tom Izzo’s place in NCAA history. With 58 tournament victories, he now stands tied with Jim Boeheim, the former Syracuse legend who, like Izzo, has just one national championship to his name.
“Well, Jim Boeheim’s a friend, too,” Izzo said after the win. “And I think he’s won a lot of games, man. And he’s won a lot more games than I’ve won. Thank God in the tournament I’ve been fortunate. But any time you can accomplish something with your team and your coaches that some of the most respected guys in college basketball have achieved, I guess it’s a privilege and an honor.”
Privilege? Of course. Honor? No question. But for Izzo, it’s not about records—it’s about banners.
Even as Izzo climbs the all-time wins list, where he now sits ninth with 715 victories, he knows what matters. Rick Pitino still has more career wins, 762, though he’s had seven more seasons to rack them up. Boeheim, now retired, amassed 1,015. But Izzo isn’t chasing names—he’s chasing banners.
In the end, Izzo’s frustration isn’t about Pitino or Boeheim. It’s about himself. His career is measured not by tournament wins, but by championships. Until another one hangs in the rafters, his own standard remains unmet.
Now, with another tournament run unfolding, Izzo’s pursuit of that elusive second championship faces its next test—a battle against a dangerous Ole Miss squad.
Izzo’s Spartans vs. Ole Miss: Grit, defense, and a battle for survival
With both teams riding the momentum of big wins, this clash isn’t just another tournament matchup—it’s a war of resilience, execution, and coaching brilliance.
Oddsmakers have Michigan State as a slight favorite, setting the spread at -2.5 and the moneyline at -150. Ole Miss sits at +130, and the over/under is 143.5, signaling expectations of a balanced but not overly high-scoring battle.
Ole Miss (24-11, 5-6 Away) is the definition of unpredictable. One night, they’re taking down North Carolina (71-64) and Iowa State (91-78); the next, they’re getting run off the court by Florida (90-71). Their volatility makes them dangerous—when they’re locked in, they can beat anyone.
Head coach Chris Beard kept the focus on his players after their latest statement win.
“This is not about me. It’s about the players,” Beard said postgame. “We felt the pressure and wanted to be a team to win the tournament. Plausible? No. Possible? Yeah. If I didn’t believe this team could win this tournament, I wouldn’t be doing my job.”
Michigan State (29-6, 15-1 Home), on the other hand, thrives at home, owning a dominant 15-1 record. Their latest wins over New Mexico (71-63) and Bryant (87-62) show a team hitting its stride at the right time.
Michigan State’s defense is elite, suffocating opponents to just 40.4% shooting (25th in the nation) and an icy 27.8% from deep (2nd in the nation), per Covers.com. That’s a nightmare for an Ole Miss squad ranking 173rd in three-point accuracy (34.8%).
Tom Izzo, never one to look too far ahead, had a classic response when told about his next opponent.
“I didn’t know [Ole Miss] won. They won? Well, you know, I’ve faced Chris Beard before—I know his teams come at you tooth and nail,” Izzo said in a postgame interview. “They’re gonna be tough defensively, they’re gonna play hard… but can I at least enjoy this win until I get to the locker room? I’ll worry about Chris when I’m on the plane.”
But what the Rebels lack in perimeter efficiency, they make up for in offensive firepower. They pour in 77.4 PPG (94th in the nation) compared to MSU’s 67.0 PPG (50th). Per KenPom, both teams boast a 118.7 offensive rating, ranking 24th (Ole Miss) and 25th (MSU). If the Rebels speed up the game and push in transition, they could force the Spartans into an uncomfortable tempo.
The glass is where Michigan State holds a massive edge. Ranked 29th in total rebounds, they tower over an Ole Miss squad that sits at 316th. Winning the rebounding battle will be critical for MSU, denying the Rebels second-chance looks and controlling the pace.
Ole Miss, however, excels in taking care of the ball—ranking 3rd nationally in turnovers per game (9.0) compared to Michigan State’s 11.3. Defensively, KenPom has Ole Miss at a 95.4 defensive rating (21st in the nation), while MSU sits at an elite 90.3 (5th in the nation).
Tom Izzo’s track record in March looms large. His experience in close tournament battles could be the difference in a game that feels like a coin flip on paper. If Michigan State’s defense holds up and their rebounding dominance translates, they should control the game. But if Ole Miss forces turnovers, ignites transition offense, and disrupts the Spartans’ rhythm, an upset could be brewing.
Final Prediction: Michigan State 72, Ole Miss 67
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