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East Lansing — It’s been 26 years since Michigan State won the national championship in 2000, a long time for a program that routinely makes a run in March Madness. That steak has been just as long for the Big Ten.
That could change this year.
Michigan State is one of six Big Ten teams to crack the Sweet 16, joining Michigan, Illinois, Nebraska, Iowa and Purdue. It’s the most Big Ten teams ever to make it to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament, giving the conference a whole lot of chances to break through.
“I think that speaks volumes for our league, as far as the coaches in it,” Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said Monday.
As many as five Big Ten teams can move on to the Elite Eight, including No. 3 seed Michigan State (27-7), which hopes to move on with a win over No. 2 seed UConn (31-5) in a game 9:45 p.m. Friday at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.
The Big Ten has had its chances to break its title drought since Michigan State’s 2000 title — eight chances, to be exact. Purdue and Zach Edey ran into UConn in 2024. Jordan Poole’s Michigan ran into Donte DiVincenzo and Villanova in 2018. Duke beat Wisconsin in 2015, and Louisville beat Michigan for 2013’s now vacated title, with four other Big Ten appearances in the title game following 2000’s MSU title.
Michigan State lost in the national championship game in 2009, 89-72, to North Carolina at Ford Field in Detroit.
Getting six teams to the Sweet 16 is new. It’s the most the conference has ever advanced to the second weekend, though it comes during an era that 18 teams are in the conference since last season’s addition of UCLA, Southern Cal, Washington and Oregon.
“I mean, those are all good teams,” Izzo said. “And you’ve had to endure the travel a little bit so you can get a little bit acclimated to different things that you could run into in the tournament.”
UCLA also made the field as a No. 7 seed and was the only Big Ten team to lose in the second round, to No. 2 UConn, The Big Ten owned a 13-3 record in the first weekend after No. 3 seed Wisconsin and No. 8 seed Ohio State lost in the first round.
To Izzo, it’s a sign of the conference’s strength that so many teams broke through, not only in men’s basketball but other sports, too. A dozen teams made the women’s basketball March Madness, and four men’s hockey programs made it into the NCAA Tournament.
“I’d say the Big Ten is flexing its muscles in that respect,” Izzo said. “And I’m a Big Ten fan for all the teams that are playing right now. But this time of the year, it’s great to still be playing.”
No. 1 seed Michigan will face No. 4 seed Alabama in the Midwest Region; No. 2 seed Purdue faces No. 11 seed Texas in the West Region. In the South, No. 4 seed Nebraska squares up with No. 9 seed Iowa, with a potential Elite Eight game against No. 3 seed Illinois should the Illini knock off No. 2 seed Houston.
Jeremy Fears Jr. always was going to be vital to Michigan State’s NCAA Tournament run, but he’ll be even more important now.
Make it two injured backup point guards for Michigan State, as third-string Denham Wojcik aggravated a right shoulder injury — Izzo said it was a torn labrum — in the second-round win over Louisville. Wojcik will continue to play, but the injury will require surgery at the end of the season.
“He’s tougher than nails,” Izzo said. “He can play through pain, put it that way. But I think he’s going to be fine. I talked to him yesterday, and he was doing a lot better, and he’ll get a little bit of rest and that’ll help him”
Wojcik finished the game with three minutes played and no counting stats. In the first round against North Dakota State, he scored four points on perfect shooting, notched an assist and a rebound in a productive eight minutes on the court.
Michigan State already lost combo guard Divine Ugochukwu to a left foot injury at Minnesota, which put him out for the season. Though Ugochukwu shot around during an open practice Wednesday in Buffalo, ditching his boot and looking comfortable, Izzo said he doesn’t expect him back this weekend, maybe not even next should the Spartans get to their first Final Four since 2019.
“None and less,” Izzo said of Ugochukwu’s chances to return.
With 9:09 remaining in Michigan State’s win over Louisville, Wojcik subbed out holding and rubbing his shoulder, taped up from a time he injured it earlier this season. He did not return to the game.
Fears put together a record-breaking performance, dishing 16 assists to pass Magic Johnson’s school record in the NCAA Tournament. He shot 3-for-13 on an off night. And though Wojcik’s contributions have been almost solely on the defensive side, Fears may have to shoulder even more minutes in the remaining games if Wojcik is in any way limited.
[email protected]
@ConnorEaregood
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Tom Izzo: Big Ten ‘flexing muscles’ with 6 teams in Sweet 16
Continue reading...
That could change this year.
Michigan State is one of six Big Ten teams to crack the Sweet 16, joining Michigan, Illinois, Nebraska, Iowa and Purdue. It’s the most Big Ten teams ever to make it to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament, giving the conference a whole lot of chances to break through.
“I think that speaks volumes for our league, as far as the coaches in it,” Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said Monday.
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As many as five Big Ten teams can move on to the Elite Eight, including No. 3 seed Michigan State (27-7), which hopes to move on with a win over No. 2 seed UConn (31-5) in a game 9:45 p.m. Friday at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.
The Big Ten has had its chances to break its title drought since Michigan State’s 2000 title — eight chances, to be exact. Purdue and Zach Edey ran into UConn in 2024. Jordan Poole’s Michigan ran into Donte DiVincenzo and Villanova in 2018. Duke beat Wisconsin in 2015, and Louisville beat Michigan for 2013’s now vacated title, with four other Big Ten appearances in the title game following 2000’s MSU title.
Michigan State lost in the national championship game in 2009, 89-72, to North Carolina at Ford Field in Detroit.
Getting six teams to the Sweet 16 is new. It’s the most the conference has ever advanced to the second weekend, though it comes during an era that 18 teams are in the conference since last season’s addition of UCLA, Southern Cal, Washington and Oregon.
“I mean, those are all good teams,” Izzo said. “And you’ve had to endure the travel a little bit so you can get a little bit acclimated to different things that you could run into in the tournament.”
UCLA also made the field as a No. 7 seed and was the only Big Ten team to lose in the second round, to No. 2 UConn, The Big Ten owned a 13-3 record in the first weekend after No. 3 seed Wisconsin and No. 8 seed Ohio State lost in the first round.
To Izzo, it’s a sign of the conference’s strength that so many teams broke through, not only in men’s basketball but other sports, too. A dozen teams made the women’s basketball March Madness, and four men’s hockey programs made it into the NCAA Tournament.
“I’d say the Big Ten is flexing its muscles in that respect,” Izzo said. “And I’m a Big Ten fan for all the teams that are playing right now. But this time of the year, it’s great to still be playing.”
No. 1 seed Michigan will face No. 4 seed Alabama in the Midwest Region; No. 2 seed Purdue faces No. 11 seed Texas in the West Region. In the South, No. 4 seed Nebraska squares up with No. 9 seed Iowa, with a potential Elite Eight game against No. 3 seed Illinois should the Illini knock off No. 2 seed Houston.
Denham Wojcik playing through shoulder injury
Jeremy Fears Jr. always was going to be vital to Michigan State’s NCAA Tournament run, but he’ll be even more important now.
Make it two injured backup point guards for Michigan State, as third-string Denham Wojcik aggravated a right shoulder injury — Izzo said it was a torn labrum — in the second-round win over Louisville. Wojcik will continue to play, but the injury will require surgery at the end of the season.
“He’s tougher than nails,” Izzo said. “He can play through pain, put it that way. But I think he’s going to be fine. I talked to him yesterday, and he was doing a lot better, and he’ll get a little bit of rest and that’ll help him”
Wojcik finished the game with three minutes played and no counting stats. In the first round against North Dakota State, he scored four points on perfect shooting, notched an assist and a rebound in a productive eight minutes on the court.
Michigan State already lost combo guard Divine Ugochukwu to a left foot injury at Minnesota, which put him out for the season. Though Ugochukwu shot around during an open practice Wednesday in Buffalo, ditching his boot and looking comfortable, Izzo said he doesn’t expect him back this weekend, maybe not even next should the Spartans get to their first Final Four since 2019.
“None and less,” Izzo said of Ugochukwu’s chances to return.
With 9:09 remaining in Michigan State’s win over Louisville, Wojcik subbed out holding and rubbing his shoulder, taped up from a time he injured it earlier this season. He did not return to the game.
Fears put together a record-breaking performance, dishing 16 assists to pass Magic Johnson’s school record in the NCAA Tournament. He shot 3-for-13 on an off night. And though Wojcik’s contributions have been almost solely on the defensive side, Fears may have to shoulder even more minutes in the remaining games if Wojcik is in any way limited.
[email protected]
@ConnorEaregood
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Tom Izzo: Big Ten ‘flexing muscles’ with 6 teams in Sweet 16
Continue reading...
