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.”

As the Michigan State Spartans gear up for yet another high-stakes Sweet 16 matchup, head coach Tom Izzo finds himself in familiar territory — not just in the NCAA Tournament, but in the national spotlight, a position he’s held for nearly three decades.

At 70, Izzo continues to defy expectations and time, steering the Spartans (29-6) into their 27th consecutive NCAA Tournament — the longest active streak in the country — and their 16th Sweet 16 appearance under his leadership. It’s a testament to a coaching philosophy rooted not in flash, but in fundamentals.

“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.”

Those words aren’t just rhetoric. They’re lived values. From the bruising Big Ten battles of the late ’90s to the current era of NIL deals and transfer portals, Izzo has kept his program grounded in old-school toughness and new-age adaptability.

One moment that still lingers in his memory — albeit with a slight exaggeration — is the Spartans’ 1995 win over a dominant Arkansas squad. “I remember we grabbed 26 offensive boards,” Izzo said, smiling at his own overstatement. Official records say it was 24. But the point remains: relentless effort never goes out of style.

“Coach Izzo is on the Mount Rushmore of this sport,” said Mississippi head coach Chris Beard, whose Rebels are set to face the Spartans on Friday night in the South Region. “He’s coached through so many eras — different players, different rules, different styles — and he’s still here, still winning. What’s the common ingredient? It’s Coach Izzo.”

Indeed, Michigan State’s presence on the main stage is no accident. While many programs have chased trends, Izzo has built a brand defined by staying power. His players defend. They rebound. They sacrifice. And year after year, they win.

As Friday’s matchup looms, the stakes are high. But for Izzo, the formula remains the same — toughness, unity, and accountability.

“It’s not magic,” he said. “It’s just hard work and belief. That’s never changed.”

And under Izzo, it never will.