Boy, oh boy. How lucky are we? Tom Izzo and Mike Krzyzewski facing off in the Final Four — Christmas in April. While its no real surprise that the Blue Devils have made it this far, it is rather astonishing that Michigan State has made it to Indianapolis.
This Final Four marks Izzo’s seventh as head coach of the Spartans in what maybe his best coaching job of his storied career.
While Coach K is searching for his fifth national title, he is also trying to win his third in the city of Indianapolis. In 1992, Duke upset the Runnin’ Rebels of UNLV in the Hoosier Dome and in 2010, Duke ruined the greatest basketball story ever told by beating Butler just three miles away from their own campus inside Lucas Oil Stadium. (The City of Indianapolis and I are still bitter.)
The longest tenured coach in the Big Ten, Izzo is once again back in the Final Four, looking for his second national championship. His track record of success in the postseason is one that has been marveled as Michigan State arrives in Indianapolis this week.
Izzo has had an illustrious career, with 7 conference championships, 4 conference tourney wins, 18 NCAA appearances, 7 Final Fours, and that aforementioned national title. He has a chance to add to those totals this week, but he’ll have to get through Mike Krzyzewski’s Duke team first on Saturday night.
Bo Ryan is in his 14th year at Wisconsin where he has had an incredible record of 356 – 124, and he ranks first all time among Big Ten coaches with at least five years of experience. He has led the Badgers to 14 NCAA Tournaments and two consecutive Final Four appearances.
Wisconsin faces 38-0 Kentucky in the Final Four. Could he lead Wisconsin to be the team that ruins the Wildcats perfect season?
Dorm Room Hoops 