Tom Izzo is on the brink of history as he is tied with legendary Indiana head coach for most basketball wins in the Big Ten. Bob Knight coached at Indiana from 1971 to 2000 and won 353 conference games with the Hoosiers. Izzo has been coaching at Michigan State since 1995 and also has won 353 conference games.
The longtime Michigan State head coach was in front of a packed Breslin Center last night as the Spartans took on the Hoosiers in a classic matchup between two Big Ten programs that have had their respective success in college basketball. With family, friends, fans, and Michigan State legends in attendance, the Spartans were unable to get it done against the Hoosiers to give Izzo his 354th conference win to officially pass Bob Knight for most basketball wins in the Big Ten.
Did Michigan State really think Indiana was going to let Izzo make history passing their beloved Knight in a game against the Hoosiers? Of course not!
While Izzo is an amazing coach, and it is evident with everything he has done, the Hoosiers have a lot of pride when it comes to Knight and while they know his record will be broken as there are still regular season games left this season, they didn't want the record broken against Knight's own team, the team he set the record with.
Indiana needed the win in order to keep their NCAA Tournament push alive, but with Knight's record on the line, it was about the principle of it. Again, Knight's record will certainly be broken, but Michigan State and Izzo will just have to wait a little longer before they give up something like that.
When the time comes, Indiana will probably congratulate Izzo on the amazing accomplishment, but for now, Knight's record stays intact and will for at least a few more days. Izzo will get another chance at breaking the record when the Spartans take the court Saturday, February 15 when they travel to take on Illinois.