Tom Izzo is a confirmed March Madness wizard

Michigan State scored another upset win in March Madness, further adding to the legendary status of head coach Tom Izzo in the NCAA Tournament.

In what could be dubbed an upset, the Michigan State Spartans have moved on to the Sweet 16. Michigan State outlasted 2-seed Marquette, 69-60, to advance to their 15th Sweet 16 in the past 25 NCAA Tournaments, the second-most for any program in that span.

The win was also another feather in the cap for Spartans’ head coach Tom Izzo, who has been at the helm for all 15 of those Sweet 16 appearances. The fact that this team found its way to the second weekend is extremely impressive since Michigan State doesn’t have the type of dominating interior play that Izzo usually operates with.

Michigan State’s Tom Izzo is a true March Madness wizard

Few coaches have a better NCAA Tournament resume than Tom Izzo, who has taken Michigan State to eight Final Fours and won the national championship in 2000. One stat that should make Izzo shine above the rest, however, is his record as an underdog.

It’s much easier to win in March Madness when you are the favorite and have the more talented team. Izzo has not only won with favorites but made a habit of overcoming adversity to win as an underdog, as CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander pointed out that today’s win marks a record 16th time that Izzo has won as the lower seed in the NCAA Tournament.

A big part of Izzo’s success in March is his ability to prepare his team for a new opponent in less than 48 hours, a key to victory when trying to get out of a regional pod. The Spartans’ win on Sunday means that Izzo is now 25-7 on the second game of a March Madness weekend, an incredible feat that speaks directly to his coaching ability.

Izzo and the Spartans are headed to New York on Thursday for a matchup with 3-seed Kansas State. A trip to the Elite Eight is on the line but betting against Izzo in March is a very bold risk to take given his pedigree in this tournament.