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What we learned from MSU’s win over New Mexico, looking to Sweet 16
Discussing how Michigan State pulled out win in NCAA tournament second round over New Mexico, Sunday, March 23, 2025 and looking to Sweet 16 vs. Mississippi.
Tom Izzo continues to play mad scientist with Michigan State basketball’s lineups deeper into a season than ever.
Coen Carr’s role keeps expanding, same for Jeremy Fears Jr. Frankie Fidler’s minutes are growing again. Szymon Zapala’s are fluctuating.
The Spartans’ depth remains their biggest strength, though. Even though the number has shrunk from 10 to nine. With Xavier Booker the odd man out in the NCAA tournament. At least for the moment.
As No. 2 seed MSU (29-6) prepares for Izzo’s 16th Sweet 16, with a date Friday in Atlanta looming against No. 6 seed Mississippi (24-11), Izzo’s exit interview from Sunday night’s 71-63 victory over 10-seed New Mexico at Rocket Arena gave a glimpse into his mindset at this time of the year.
“We’re grinding them right now,” Izzo said. “And when you have to play at an elite level in your own way every game, because our margin for error is so slim because we’re not as talented as some teams, there’s just not a lot of − like, everybody uses the term, ‘My bad.’
“I don’t use it, because I hate it. But it’s a fact, it’s what every kid says. ‘My bad,’ that’s supposed to ease the pain. I try to express to them ‘my bad’ in one-and-done time is not good.”
The urgency of win-or-go-home basketball has hastened his demands for precision and tenacity, particularly after two rough starts and rocky overall performances in the first two rounds of the NCAAs. It will be one of the major points of emphasis during preparation for the Rebels, who went 10-8 in Southeastern Conference play and lost two of those to Auburn, the No. 1 seed in the South bracket, and another game to the Tigers in the SEC tournament.
Correcting the…
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Publish date : 2025-03-25 12:25:00
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