Spartans' Tom Izzo ties Bob Knight's Big Ten wins record

Copy Link

Email

Print

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo tied Bob Knight's Big Ten record for wins, leading the ninth-ranked Spartans to a comeback 86-74 victory over Oregon on Saturday.

Perhaps fittingly, Izzo matched the mark with conference win No. 353 on the day of the program's annual reunion of former players and celebration of the 2000 national championship team.

Knight, who died in 2023, led the Hoosiers to three NCAA titles from 1971 to 2000 and was one of Izzo's mentors during his first season as Jud Heathcote's successor in 1995.

"He was good to me and he was a great coach who did many things I haven't done," Izzo said. "I'm proud of it because I get to be talked about with a guy who I…