Michigan State opened Big Ten play in mid-December and played 14 of its final 21 games against NCAA Tournament teams. That included three games against No. 1 seeds and four more against No. 2 seeds.
Things got ugly. The Spartans were 4-9 in the conference after a Feb. 16 loss to Purdue and on the outside of the Tournament looking in. But they rallied down the stretch with thee wins against top-five opponents in a span of six games and enter Thursday's play-in game against UCLA as battled-tested as any team in the field.
"You know and I know, three weeks ago nobody gave us a chance, including probably most of you and hell, maybe even me," Izzo told reporters on Tuesday. "And we fought our way through that. That took courage and guts and I’m proud of them for that. Hopefully we can build on it."
If Michigan State beats UCLA, it gets No. 6 BYU in the first round. No. 3 Texas would likely be next, winners of the Big 12 Tournament. And No. 2 Alabama after that, winners of the SEC. And maybe, eventually, No. 1 Michigan -- which is a good reminder the Spartans have nothing to fear. They just topped a fully-healthy Michigan team in the regular season finale.
Heck, the biggest concern for the Spartans in the East Region might be No. 10 Maryland, a team that beat them twice in the past two weeks.
"In seven of our last 10 games we played well and in nine of our last 10 we played a Quad 1 team, so I’m not nervous about facing any team in this tournament," Izzo said. "I mean, I don’t feel comfortable with UCLA and BYU and Texas, but I don’t feel afraid of UCLA or BYU or Texas or anybody else because we truly have played the best teams in the country on a night-in, night-out basis, especially those last three weeks."
While Michigan State enters the Tournament with some wind in its sails, UCLA goes in on a four-game skid. Know how many games against NCAA Tournament teams the Bruins played in the Pac-12 this year? Seven. They went 2-5. Not that Izzo is taking them lightly; any team coached by Mike Cronin poses a challenge.
"West Coast teams are usually a little softer over the years, but Mick brings a Midwest flavor to it," Izzo said. "His teams are tough. He’s done a great job building that program again, l know he’s got kids that have bought in. I have a lot of respect for Mick and the way he’s done it. He brings a smash-mouth kind of team, which is different than maybe other teams we’ve played out West."
An Ohio native, Cronin got his start in the college ranks coaching under Bob Huggins at Cincinnati. He prides his teams on being tough and physical, just like Izzo at Michigan State.
"This will be a slugfest Thursday night," Izzo said. "I think it will be one of the all-time great play-in games."
And, maybe, the start of an all-time great story for the Spartans.
"Everyone’s got their own stories (in the Tournament), and my story is going to be, let’s do something that’s never been done for Michigan State," Izzo said. "And that’s win three games in the same weekend in the NCAA tournament."