Faced with the magnitude of the task, even the giants Roy Williams (North Carolina), Mike Krzyzewki (Duke), Jay Wright (Villanova) and Jim Boeheim (Syracuse) have thrown in the towel over the past two years.
Considering that they are no longer in phase with the university championship, which has recently entered a new era with the emergence of the transfer portal (established in 2018) and the NIL (in 2021), the four legendary technicians, all aged 70 or over (except for Jay Wright, who is 61), considered the best of the 21st century on the university circuit, have actually preferred to leave the reins to successors, who are younger and therefore more comfortable with the “modern” dynamics that reign in the NCAA today.
All have turned the page, except Tom Izzo (68). Fifth member of “Mount Rushmore” of “coaching” in the NCAA in the 21st century, the Spartans mage is not done with his career at East Lansing.
” I still love my job. It’s just that I like the profession less and less » he then throws, in reference to changes in the NCAA ecosystem. ” But I like the state of things for our program. With more or less talent, we are always consistent. So right now, I’m not going anywhere. »
A coach who adapts… without changing anything
Under Tom Izzo (who arrived in 1995), Michigan State has historically built its success on a simple recipe: stability. With the exception of Jaren Jackson Jr, rare “one-and-done” of the program in the Izzo era (4th choice of the 2018 Draft, the other being… Max Christie, in 2022), the Spartans’ major players since 1995 have effectively all built their careers over several years, at least two: Jason Richardson or Zach Randolph for example, or more recently Denzel Valentine, Cassius Winston or Xavier Tillman, precious for the Grizzlies in the playoffs, without obviously forgetting Draymond Green.
” I have always made sure to run this program on the basis of human relations. I always want to develop players. I always want to recruit players loyal to one school. Is this an ‘old-school’ mentality? I do not think so adds Tom Izzo. ” This is no longer the mentality of the moment, in any case. But still, it’s still the right way to go for us. And for the young people who come to us. »
A “tradition” perpetuated by two major starters from last season: Tyson Walker and Malik Hall, both back for a fifth and final season, at the start of the school year, when they could have looked for an opportunity with the pros, in G-League or Europe.
” When you come out of a season as good as ours, that you are surrounded by great teammates and that you know that everyone is returning, with in addition a solid class of ‘freshmen’, it is the ideal situation. sums up Malik Hall, symbol of this loyalty still central to the values of the program.
Focus on organic renewal
Thus, at a time when the “one-and-done” is losing its luster to be overshadowed by a frantic race to recruit more experienced players on the transfer portal, Tom Izzo is sailing against the tide by remaining faithful to its historical principles: develop its players, turn them into executives, and start again.
” No one recruits high school students anymore [pour en faire des ‘one-and-done’]. I’m still interested in recruiting them, as long as I have veterans to surround them with he concludes, while he will be able to count again at the start of the school year on a clever mix of experience and youth (three ‘senior’ holders to supervise four future ‘freshmen’). ” [La saison prochaine], we will have older guys to take the youngsters under their wings. Then these veterans will leave, and the younger ones will then be ready to take on more responsibilities. And in turn they will supervise ‘freshmen’. This is how we keep moving forward. »
A method, and results, which indeed prove him right: Michigan State has failed to qualify for the “March Madness” only twice since his arrival in 1995! An impressive regularity, without ever counting on future transcendent talents NBAers, most recently marked by a “run” until the third round of the “March Madness” last March, which allows the Spartans and the indestructible Tom Izzo to serenely approach the transition (in progress) towards the new era of the university championship…
