MSU's Izzo Confident in Spartans' March Madness Ingredients Ahead of NDSU Matchup

Michigan State's veteran head coach discusses his team's preparation, past tournament upsets, and the challenges posed by the Bison.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 6:48pm

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Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo spoke to the media about his team's upcoming NCAA Tournament first-round matchup against North Dakota State. Izzo discussed the Spartans' consistency in making the tournament, the strengths of the Bison squad, and reflected on past tournament upsets his teams have suffered, including a loss to Middle Tennessee State in 2016.

Why it matters

As a perennial March Madness contender, Michigan State and Tom Izzo are always under the microscope during the NCAA Tournament. Izzo's comments provide insight into how the veteran coach is approaching this year's tournament and the potential pitfalls his team could face against a dangerous lower-seeded opponent.

The details

Izzo said his staff spent most of the previous night preparing for North Dakota State, noting the Bison's ability to shoot the three-pointer effectively. He acknowledged the challenges of facing an eight-man roster that can all shoot from deep. Izzo also reflected on Michigan State's stunning 2016 first-round loss to 15th-seeded Middle Tennessee State, saying his team played well but was unable to overcome the upset.

  • Michigan State is set to face North Dakota State on Thursday, March 21, 2026 at 4:05 p.m. ET.
  • Michigan State has made the NCAA Tournament for 28 consecutive seasons.

The players

Tom Izzo

The veteran head coach of the Michigan State Spartans, who has led the program to eight Final Four appearances and one national championship.

North Dakota State

The 14th-seeded North Dakota State Bison, who earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament by winning the Summit League championship.

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What they’re saying

“The NCAA Tournament is an accomplishment. Is it true that Auburn last year was the No. 1 seed overall? Yeah, and they're not even in the tournament [this year]. Probably what I'm proudest of is consistency.”

— Tom Izzo, Head Coach, Michigan State Spartans (si.com)

“We played so good. We shot 50-something [percent] from the field, I think 50 [percent] from three. Does that mean our defense was bad? It probably did, but was it from a lack of preparation or a lack of respect? One hundred percent not.”

— Tom Izzo, Head Coach, Michigan State Spartans (si.com)

What’s next

The winner of the Michigan State-North Dakota State matchup will advance to face the winner of the Louisville-South Florida game in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

Tom Izzo's comments highlight the challenges of navigating the unpredictable nature of the NCAA Tournament, where even the most consistent programs can fall victim to stunning upsets. As Michigan State seeks its first national title since 2000, Izzo and the Spartans will need to avoid overlooking a dangerous North Dakota State squad and focus on executing their game plan to advance in the tournament.