Tom Izzo: Michigan State done apologizing for being in Final Four

Tom Izzo said in his press conference at the Final Four on Friday that Michigan State has earned their right to be in the Final Four.

Tom Izzo and the rest of the Michigan State Spartans are done apologizing for being in Final Four Izzo said in his Friday press conference in Indianapolis. The Spartans are a 7-seed that made it all the way out of the East Region to get to the Final Four this season.

More from March Madness

Here’s what Izzo said in his press conference via Fox Sports Detroit:

"“I would be the first to admit that a month and a half ago, I questioned where we were. But we’ve earned our right to be here so we’re not going to apologize anymore. The teams we beat at the end of the year in the Big Ten Tournament and I think we played maybe the toughest four teams to get here so we’ve earned our right, we’re ready to play and we know we’re playing a great team in Duke and we’re excited about the opportunity.”"

A powerful statement from Tom Izzo, but he’s absolutely right. The Spartans have been incredible the postseason, defying all odds in route to get to the Final Four defeating 10-seed Georgia, 2-seed Virginia, 3-seed Oklahoma and 4-seed Louisville to find themselves in Indianapolis this week.

After a 21-10 season, the Spartans had a tough schedule in the Big Ten Tournament where they had to play Ohio State, Maryland and eventually Wisconsin in the championship game. The Spartans took Wisconsin to overtime but lost the game. Nonetheless, Michigan State proved they could compete with any team and that carried over to the NCAA Tournament where they’ve won some huge games.

Is it any surprise that Michigan State finds themselves in the Final Four? Tom Izzo has solidified himself as one of the best college basketball coaches of all time, winning a National Championship in 2000 and making the NCAA Tournament each year since 1998, making the Final Four in five of those years.

It’s been pointed out that Michigan State is doing something eerily similar to what Connecticut did last year as a 7-seed not only getting to the Final Four but winning the championship.

Like UCONN was led by point guard Shabazz Napier, Michigan State has been led by senior point guard Travis Trice who has averaged 19.7 points per game in the tournament so far.

You can never count out Michigan State to get to the Final Four especially because of Tom Izzo’s will to win and his ability to instill the belief in all of his players year to year that no matter how their season has gone, they have the power to win the whole thing. While Izzo has just one championship, winning it all this year would put him right near the top of the list of the greatest coaches of all-time and it would be huge not just for their program, but for the state of Michigan and the Big Ten conference.

So, no more apologies from Tom Izzo and the Spartans no more questioning whether they belong. When they hit the floor in a rematch against Duke after they lost to the Blue Devils 81-71 at the beginning of their season, all bets are off.

More from FanSided

Home/March Madness