Michigan State Tom Izzo ties Bob Knight’s Big Ten wins record ahead of matchup with Indiana

Tom Izzo tied Bob Knight’s record for Big Ten victories with win No. 523. The Michigan State Spartans moved to (19-4 overall, 10-2 Big Ten) with their 86-74 win over the Oregon Ducks.

Izzo missed two opportunities last week to tie the late Knight — who won national titles at Indiana in 1976, 1981 and 1987, including an undefeated season in 1975-76. After Saturday's win, Izzo is now 353-172 all-time in Big Ten games and 725-299 overall in 30 seasons at Michigan State.

The 70-year-old Tom Izzo will now look to pass the late Indiana basketball legendary coach against none other than the Hoosiers on Tuesday night.

"“I got an extra year than Bob. I’m dumb enough to stay around, he left earlier,” Izzo said Saturday. “Number two, I played more games than Bob did. Number three, records are made to be broken. Memory making moments will never be broken but records will be broken.

“I mean, it’s an honor and I mean this as an honor, Bob was controversial. I loved him, you know, he was good to me, and he was a great coach and he did many things that I haven’t done and so if he wants to trade the record I’ll give him a buzz tonight up there. If he wants to trade the record for the four other national championships, I’m all in because it’s about winning championships, not records.

“He was good to me and he was a great coach who did many things I haven’t done. I’m proud of it because I get to be talked about with a guy who I thought really highly as a coach.”"

Tom Izzo

“I’m proud of it because I get to be talked about with a guy that I really thought highly of as a coach,” Izzo said of tying the record.

Former Indiana head coach Bob Knight's Awards and Accolades

• Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (1991)
• College Basketball Hall of Fame (2006)
• 3 x NCAA Champion as coach (1976, 1981, 1987)
• IU Athletic Hall of Fame (2009)
• 5 x Final Four (1973, 1976, 1981, 1987, 1992)
• 11 x Big Ten regular season title (1973-1976, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993)
• NIT Champion (1979)
• Gold Medal Olympic Games (1984)
• Gold Medal Pan American Games (1979)
• Most wins all-time as head coach with 902 wins (at time of retirement)
• NCAA Champion as player (1960)
• Naismith Award for Men’s Outstanding Contribution to Basketball (2007)
• 2 x Henry Iba Award (1975, 1989)
• Naismith College Coach of the Year (1987)
• 3 x AP Coach of the Year (1975, 1976, 1989)
• Clair Bee Coach of the Year Award (2002)
• 3 x Big Ten Coach of the Year (1980, 1981, 1989) per BobKnight.com