Tom Izzo Was All Smiles After Michigan State Crushed No. 6 Baylor

The longtime Spartans coach couldn’t help but smile after a much-needed win on Saturday against a top 10 team.
Tom Izzo Was All Smiles After Michigan State Crushed No. 6 Baylor
Tom Izzo Was All Smiles After Michigan State Crushed No. 6 Baylor /

Michigan State opened the 2023 college basketball season as the No. 4 team in the country.

The Spartans kicked the season off by losing at home to James Madison. It didn’t get much better than that afterwards, as Michigan State lost four of its next eight games.

Entering Saturday sputtering at 4–5 with No. 6 Baylor on tap, the Spartans desperately needed a win. 

When Michigan State proceeded to blow the Bears out by 24 points—an 88–64 beatdown on a neutral floor in Detroit—longtime coach Tom Izzo couldn’t knock the smile off his face.

Prior to the contest, Izzo knew his team needed to find a way to get back to playing Michigan State basketball.

“We’ve got to get our identity back,” Izzo said. “…We’ve got to defend, rebound and run. That’s what we’ve done for 30 years.”

Mission accomplished.

Michigan State forced 21 Baylor turnovers, and held a plus-nine advantage on the glass. In addition, senior guard Tyson Walker scored 18 of his game-high 25 points in the first half, as the Spartans took a 45–17 lead into halftime and never looked back.

“It was a step in the right direction,” Izzo said after the game. “It shows you what we can be against a very good team.”

Michigan State hosts Oakland on Monday night in East Lansing.


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Mike McDaniel
MIKE MCDANIEL

Mike McDaniel is a staff writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated, where he has worked since January 2022. His work has been featured at InsideTheACC.com, SB Nation, FanSided and more. McDaniel hosts the Hokie Hangover Podcast, covering Virginia Tech athletics, as well as Basketball Conference: The ACC Football Podcast. Outside of work, he is a husband and father, and an avid golfer.