His memory is a bit fuzzy — Izzo remembers his 1995 Michigan State team grabbing 26 offensive rebounds in a victory over a powerhouse Arkansas program, when it was actually 24 — but the message is clear. Some keys to success never change. “I always say you can win games in a lot of different ways, but to win championships, it’s pretty standard still,” Izzo said Thursday. “You’ve still got to be able to do things with some accountability and some discipline.” Michigan State (29-6) is in the midst of its 27th straight NCAA Tournament appearance, the longest active streak in the country. At age 70, Izzo has the Spartans in the Sweet 16 for the 16th time in his three-decade-long career. “He’s Mount Rushmore of this sport,” said Mississippi coach Chris Beard, whose team will meet the second-seeded Spartans on Friday night in the South Region. “He’s coached in all these different eras of college basketball. He’s had different players, different coaches, different rules, different styles of the game. Now here we are in the name, image, and likeness and portal era, and Michigan State is here on the main stage. What’s the common ingredient? It’s coach Izzo.”

— Nearly three decades into his legendary tenure, Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo continues to defy time, trends, and turnover. As his Spartans prepare to face off against Mississippi in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, the same values that defined his early teams remain the bedrock of their success — toughness, discipline, and an unshakable belief in rebounding.

“I always say you can win games in a lot of different ways,” Izzo said Thursday, leaning back in his chair during media availability. “But to win championships, it’s pretty standard still. You’ve got to be able to do things with some accountability and some discipline.”

The 70-year-old Hall of Famer chuckled as he recalled a 1995 game — his first season as Michigan State’s head coach — when his team dominated the boards against a formidable Arkansas squad.

“I thought we had 26 offensive rebounds,” Izzo smiled. “Turns out it was 24. Guess I gave us a couple extras over the years.”

It’s a minor memory lapse that doesn’t diminish the message: success is rooted in effort. And for Michigan State, that’s never changed.

Now in their record-setting 27th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, the Spartans are peaking at the right time, led by a combination of veteran leadership and youthful grit. They boast a 29-6 record and a defensive identity that mirrors Izzo’s old-school coaching philosophy — one that has weathered every shift in college basketball, from the one-and-done era to the current landscape of name, image, and likeness (NIL) and the transfer portal.

“He’s Mount Rushmore of this sport,” said Mississippi head coach Chris Beard, whose Rebels are preparing for a physical clash Friday night. “He’s coached through all these different eras, different rules, different rosters. And yet, Michigan State is still here, still relevant, still elite. What’s the common ingredient? It’s Coach Izzo.”

As the Sweet 16 looms, the Spartans aren’t just playing for another Final Four berth — they’re carrying the legacy of a program that reflects its coach’s relentless spirit.

“Styles change. Rules change,” Izzo said. “But if you rebound, defend, and play with heart — that still wins in March.”

And under Tom Izzo, it still wins at Michigan State.