With over 1,400 victories, three national titles, and 15 Final Fours, the careers of Tom Izzo and Rick Pitino are Hall of Fame-worthy will be an understatement. Both coaches enter the tournament with their respective teams, Michigan State (2-seed) and St. John’s (also a 2-seed), boasting impressive records. Despite being the Michigan State’s all-time winningest coach, he revealed one thorn in his side. In fact, he did not name a single person, but hilariously dragged the Pitino family.
“A good coach, this team has some size.” Tom Izzo spoke to the press and spoke highly about Richard Pitino’s team. The 10th-seeded New Mexico men’s basketball team was victorious over seventh-seeded Marquette. The Michigan State coach appreciated the 75-66 victory, and that’s when he explained his problem with the upcoming battle on his hands.
“You don’t win a number of games, they beat UCLA, they beat USC, I mean those team beat us. I know Richard so, and so I know Rick, damn family’s ruining my life here.” His take on the father-son coach is not wrong.
“Damn family’s ruining my life here”
Coach Izzo talks the Pitino’s ahead of @MSU_Basketball‘s matchup with New Mexico on Sunday #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/TrrvJ3QJaa
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 22, 2025
With No. 10 New Mexico’s victory over No. 7 Marquette on Friday, Richard and Rick Pitino become the first father-son coaching duo to both win an NCAA Tournament game in the same season, according to John Fanta of FOX Sports. No. 2 St. John’s beat Omaha on Thursday, so the elder Pitino will face off against friend-turned-rival John Calipari and No. 10 Arkansas on Saturday. Both wins marked historic campaigns for the respective teams.
The Red Storm are in the Big Dance for the first time since 2015. Meanwhile, it was the Lobos’ first NCAA Tournament victory since 2012. Should Tom Izzo be worried about his next opponents?
Looking at Tom Izzo’s struggle in the March Madness
Michigan State basketball has opened the 2025 NCAA Tournament, and they dispatched the 15-seeded Bryant Bulldogs. But it wasn’t straightforward, as the big-time win on Friday was filled with its challenges. Bryant’s physically gave the Spartans a headache for a majority of the contest, but the latter ended the night with 87-62.
Spartan reached the tournament’s second weekend back in 2023, as they beat the then No. 2 seed Marquette. But that’s the only time Tom Izzo has been to the Sweet 16 since 2019. In fact, it was only one of two times over the past decade, that Michigan State reached that stage. So, the Sparty will be looking to regain the lost glory as they face the Lobos.
Who on the surface is very similar to Rick Pitino’s DNA. Some might say that Richard Pitino and his team are mediocre on offense, but swarming on defense, especially due to Donovan Dent and big man Nelly Junior Joseph. So another mouth-watering clash waits for us, as Michigan State and New Mexico await in Round 2.
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