The Spartans are on to the Sweet Sixteen after taking down the Cardinals.
Michigan State's Tom Izzo walks in with his staff against Louisville in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at the KeyBank Center on Saturday, March 21, 2026. | Starr Portice, Michigan State Spartans on SI This is Tom Izzo's 17th Sweet Sixteen as the head coach at MSU.
Excluding 2020, when the tournament was canceled, Michigan State has been among the final 16 teams in the nation 56.7% of the time under his leadership. The next phase is beating either UConn or UCLA, reaching the Elite Eight, and then getting Izzo a potential ninth Final Four.Full Episode of the MSU Spartans Insider Podcast:Michigan State's Jeremy Fears Jr. looks on during the second round of the NCAA Tournament against Louisville at the KeyBank Center on Saturday, March 21, 2026. | Starr Portice, Michigan State Spartans on SI One nice thing for Michigan State is that it is going to have one more day of rest than its next opponent. UConn and UCLA are set to face off in Philadelphia on Sunday. The time of the Spartans' next game is not yet known, but we do know that next weekend's festivities in Washington, D.C., where the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight rounds are being held in the East Region, will officially start on Friday. Capital One Arena, home of the Washington Wizards, is the place where MSU upset Duke in 2019 to reach its most recent Final Four. Michigan State's Tom Izzo gives instructions during a game against Louisville in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at the KeyBank Center on Saturday, March 21, 2026. | Starr Portice, Michigan State Spartans on SI Michigan State looks like a team that can do it again. The Spartans have multiple players who are playing their best basketball of the season right now. Fears had some preventable turnovers on Saturday and had a bit of an off shooting night, but that didn't stop him from contributing in a big way with his passing. Carr had the best game of his collegiate career on Saturday. Trey Fort is suddenly coming off the bench, knocking down threes, and is playing better defense. What's also interesting is that MSU will be relatively familiar with whichever team it faces next. The Spartans faced UConn in an exhibition game way back in October. They also split a pair of games against the Bruins, losing the most recent one in the quarterfinal of the Big Ten Tournament. Whether it's Dan Hurley or Mick Cronin next weekend, it'll be an interesting challenge. Michigan State's Coen Carr pulls down a rebound against Louisville during the second round of the NCAA Tournament at the KeyBank Center on Saturday, March 21, 2026. | Starr Portice, Michigan State Spartans on SIJACOB COTSONIKA A 2025 graduate from Michigan State University, Cotsonika brings a wealth of experience covering the Spartans from Rivals and On3 to his role as Michigan State Spartans Beat Writer on SI. At Michigan State, he was also a member of the world-renowned Spartan marching band for two seasons.
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