LSU Tigers interim coach Tony Benford has led his team to the Sweet 16 following a 69-67 win over Maryland in the Round of 32. He joins Steve Fisher as the only two interim coaches to ever accomplish such a feat — Fisher did so with Michigan in 1989, and eventually went on to win a national championship that year.
Benford, who deserves high praise in his own right for leading an LSU team embedded in controversy and tragedy to this run, had glowing remarks about Tom Izzo, Cassius Winston and the Michigan State basketball program.