The 2020-21 college basketball season was unprecedented in many ways, but somehow, according to experts, Izzo showed his best coaching performance.
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Tom Izzo, in his 26th year as head coach of the Michigan State Spartans, experienced something new.
He tested positive for COVID-19 in November, and MSU was face-to-face with a worldwide pandemic featuring plenty of unknowns.
Out of 15 players, 13 contracted the virus since last summer, including five other positive tests leading to a 20-day shutdown.
It affected everything from traditional training camps, player development, wins, losses, and mental health.
Izzo didn't have any answers for his players or staff, even after two-plus decades of being on the Spartans bench.
However, despite a 4-9 start to Big Ten, the Spartans somehow clawed their way into the NCAA tournament as an at-large team. Michigan State earned Izzo's 23rd straight tournament bid by defeating three top-five teams in the final two weeks of the regular season.
WKAR Current Sports talks about why 2020 should be considered one of Izzo’s best coaching performances.