Michigan State coach Tom Izzo tied Bob Knight’s record for most wins in the Big Ten conference, leading his ninth-ranked Spartans to a comeback victory over Oregon on Saturday. The 86-74 win marked conference win No. 353 for Izzo, who celebrated the milestone during the program’s annual reunion of former players.
Izzo matched the mark with conference win number 353 while being surrounded by former teammates from the 2000 national championship team. He praised Knight, a mentor and legendary coach who led Michigan State to three NCAA titles from 1971 to 2000.
The Spartans trailed Oregon 50-36 at halftime but rallied for a 12-point win. Izzo described it as one of the greatest comebacks in his home arena. After the game, he was emotional while hugging former teammates and coaches.
Izzo’s career record in Big Ten games is now 352-172, while overall he has 725-299 wins. Oregon coach Dana Altman praised Izzo and his program, saying they play hard and physically, earning respect from the coaching community.
The milestone win marked a memorable moment for Izzo, who was also inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016.
Source: https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/43751643/spartans-tom-izzo-ties-bob-knight-big-ten-wins-record