Michigan State (28-8) plays on in the national semifinals next Saturday in Indianapolis because of Izzo’s game management and direction of his players. A team that appeared fractured at some junctures this season by multiple benchings to Durrell Summers and injuries to Kalin Lucas, Delvon Roe and Chris Allen isn’t fully healed, but is getting it done. As has been the case a half-dozen times before, Izzo has everyone gelling at the perfect time. He joins Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski and UCLA’s John Wooden as the only coaches to take six teams this far over this short of a span. “Tom Izzo does his best job every year during the NCAA tournament,” Johnson said as reporters swarmed. “This team is representative of him.”
In a game that came down to the final frenetic seconds, Izzo’s troops were cooler, calmer and more collected than the Volunteers. The score was tied 10 times. The Spartans’ biggest lead was eight points, Tennessee’s six. Michigan State met its match defensively and on the glass in Tennessee. The Volunteers led 41-39 at the half. But in the end, the Spartans executed and the Vols failed. When Tennessee’s Scotty Hopson made one of two free throws with 11 seconds remaining, it was 69 all.
Izzo called timeout to set up a play and Draymond Green wound up with the ball in his hands. Green spotted a wide-open Raymar Morgan under the basket and delivered a hard pass. Morgan went to the hoop and was fouled by J.P. Prince. Morgan icily knocked down the first free throw and purposely missed the second, trying to kill the clock. Tennessee called timeout with 1.6 seconds left, but a desperation heave by Prince never made it to the basket as time expired. Izzo’s strategy worked. The game was over. The Sparty party was on.
A wild celebration ensued at midcourt as well as a stream of tears. Izzo was shaking hands all over press row, his eyes welling with emotion. He slapped a high five with a beaming Green. Fill-in point guard Korie Lucious was bawling. Lucas hobbled around on crutches, smiling widely.
Everyone got in on the jubilation.