MINNEAPOLIS – Nineteen years ago this week, Tom Izzo’s beleaguered Michigan State program rolled into West Lafayette, Indiana, and served notice that something was brewing in East Lansing.
That stunning win at Purdue on Dec. 30, 1997, was the beginning of everything for Izzo’s Spartans.
Alvin Ellis is no Mateen Cleaves. This year’s Golden Gophers aren’t the Boilermakers of the 1990s. And a 75-74 overtime win Tuesday night at Minnesota won’t grab the college basketball world’s attention.
But 19 years later, toughness still travels. Poise decides games. And winning a Big Ten opener on the road in adverse circumstances feels mighty good.