Charles Barkley Praises Michigan State Coach Tom Izzo's Unwavering Approach

TV analyst lauds Izzo's old-school, hard-working persona after Spartans' NCAA Tournament win

Mar. 22, 2026 at 4:50pm

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Charles Barkley, a TV analyst for the NCAA Tournament, heaped praise on Michigan State men's basketball coach Tom Izzo following the Spartans' 77-69 win over Louisville in the second round. Barkley highlighted Izzo's ability to hold players accountable and his teams' consistent performance, saying "His teams never underachieve" and "If you don't want to be coached, you probably shouldn't come to Michigan State."

Why it matters

Izzo is a legendary college basketball coach who has led Michigan State to 17 Sweet 16 appearances in his 31 seasons. Barkley's glowing endorsement of Izzo's old-school coaching style and ability to get the most out of his players underscores Izzo's reputation as one of the premier coaches in the sport.

The details

In the postgame interview, Barkley praised Izzo for his willingness to "yell at his players" and the fact that his teams "play a certain way" that players must adhere to. Barkley said it's "a beautiful thing to watch" how Izzo's teams never underachieve, highlighting the coach's ability to hold his players accountable.

  • Michigan State defeated Louisville 77-69 on Saturday in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

The players

Tom Izzo

The head coach of the Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team, who has led the program to 17 Sweet 16 appearances in his 31 seasons as head coach.

Charles Barkley

A TV analyst for the NCAA Tournament coverage on CBS, TBS and TNT, known for his outspoken and candid commentary on college basketball.

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What they’re saying

“His teams never underachieve. It's actually a beautiful thing to watch. ... They play a certain way, and you have to play his way.”

— Charles Barkley, TV Analyst

“If you don't want to be coached, you probably shouldn't come to Michigan State. I love the fact that he never backed down.”

— Charles Barkley, TV Analyst

What’s next

Michigan State will play the winner of the Connecticut-UCLA matchup in the Sweet 16 on Friday in Washington, D.C.

The takeaway

Barkley's glowing praise of Izzo's unwavering coaching style and ability to get the most out of his players underscores why the Michigan State coach is considered one of the best in college basketball. Izzo's old-school approach and refusal to back down from holding his players accountable has fueled the Spartans' consistent success over his 31-year tenure.