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| Simply the best |
It's not exactly pump your chest out time if you reside in Michigan. The state leads the nation in unemployment at over 14 percent. Michigan is not far behind in pacing the country in foreclosure rates, and its auto industry needed costly government bailouts in order to survive. Oh, and the Detroit Lions have been the laughing stock of the NFL for years. Not exactly the kind of stuff that instills confidence.
There is one thing Michigan can be proud about. Forget the accolades bestowed upon Roy Williams, Mike Krzyzewski, Jim Boeheim, Rick Pitino and that crowd. It should be obvious by now that the best college basketball coach in all the land resides in the thumb state. There is no one better roaming the sideline than Michigan State Spartans Head Coach Tom Izzo.
If you hardliners need proof, chew on this. Since 1999, no school has amassed more NCAA tourney games than the Spartans, a terrific 33-10 record -- so far. Add to that, 6-1 in regional finals, six Final Fours and a national title . And yeah, State was just there last year in the championship game against North Carolina. Sick! Just sick!
Making his his annual run through the tourney, Izzo has had to do it this year after losing Kalin Lucas, his starting point guard, in first half against Maryland. This has arguably been one of Izzo's best coaching jobs considering this team provided a number of aspirin moments during the regular season.
If Izzo were to get close to the talent that regularly lines up around the corner to wear a Tar Heels or Blue Devils jersey, he'd be cast in stone by now. I've learned my lesson. From now on, I'm just going to automatically pencil in the Spartans to make it to at least the Elite 8.
In a day and age where so many youngsters lack discipline, Izzo leaves no doubt as to who is in charge. Late in the regular season, Lucas bailed on the media after a game, offering no comment. The next day, he was in front of the cameras, apologizing for his exit the night before. That's the way things get handled in Izzo's world - take responsibility for your actions. There's room for healthy discussion, for airing out differences. The coach is willing to sit down and listen to reason. When it comes time to perform on the court though, Izzo is darn near a dictator. He expects and demands that his players leave it all on the floor.
The pro game has come calling to East Lansing more than once and I'm sure other collegiate programs have offered Izzo his own Brinks truck, but so far, thankfully, his response has been 'Go Green. Go White.'
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