Steve Mariucci surprises Michigan State’s Tom Izzo on brink of breaking Bob Knight’s Big Ten record

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EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan State coach Tom Izzo has tried to downplay being on the brink of breaking Bob Knight’s record for Big Ten basketball wins.

Izzo might have a hard time sticking to that script Tuesday night.

Former NFL coach Steve Mariucci surprised Izzo by showing up at the Breslin Center, sitting on the Spartans’ bench with his back facing Izzo as he walked to the sideline for warmups before No. 11 Michigan State played Indiana.

Izzo and Mariucci, who coached the San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions, grew up together in Iron Mountain in Michigan’s upper peninsula and attended nearby Northern Michigan.

The Basketball Hall of Fame coach tied Knight’s Big Ten record of 353 conference wins with an 86-74 comeback victory over Oregon on Saturday.

Knight, who died in 2023, led Indiana to three NCAA titles from 1971 to 2000 and was one of Izzo’s mentors during his first season as Jud Heathcote’s successor at Michigan State in 1995.

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Follow Larry Lage at https://apnews.com/author/larry-lage

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/steve-mariucci-surprises-michigan-states-021848048.html

Author : Associated Press

Publish date : 2025-02-12 02:18:00

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