Tom Izzo reacts to passing Bob Knight for Big Ten wins record

The Michigan State Spartans took care of business against the Illinois Fighting Illini on Saturday evening. The Spartans won by a comfortable margin, 79-65, spoiling the retirement ceremony of Terrence Shannon, Jr. in the process. Instead, MSU head coach Tom Izzo put himself in rarified air. Izzo won game No. 354 in the Big Ten Conference, passing former Indiana head coach Bob Knight for the most in conference history.

Following the game, Izzo spoke with Jim Jackson of The Big Ten Network on the floor.

“We said we had to check better. I mean, we gave up so many points in the first half. And that was one of them. We wanted to rebound better. I don’t know if we did. That was fun. But we executed better on this end too. I thought we got the ball inside. I thought we got the ball outside. A lot of guys did a good job. It was a big win after a big letdown against Indiana to be honest with you,” Izzo explained.

He got Jaxson Kohler involved inside. And Carson Cooper involved with the lobs. Was that part of their game plan to dominate the paint in the second half?

“Old school or Wright School. I went to Wright School tonight. You’re right, Jimmy. We just did. We got it inside. We got it outside. Jase Richardson hit a few plays. I thought Tre Holloman did some good things. And really, Jeremy [Fears, Jr.] ran our team. We just got caught up when they were going under him a little more. So, it was a great win for us,” Izzo continued.

The win was No. 354 for Izzo in the Big Ten Conference. What does it mean to him?

“Well, first of all, the guy I went by is a hell of a coach and hell of a guy. And a friend of all of ours. I think second of all, I just want to be thankful. 148 players that I coached. Each one of them got a win. And those wins helped me, the Presidents, the ADs, my assistant coaches, and over 6 million fans that have watched us over those 354 wins. So, that’s who I’m gonna thank Jimmy,” Izzo noted.

“I’d turn it in for a banner,” Izzo joked. “But I guess that’s not the way it is right now.”

Michigan State handled Illinois comfortably on Saturday night, winning 79-65. Jaxon Kohler was dominant inside, pouring in 23 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. He also had two steals and one block. Jase Richardson also chipped in 11 points and three rebounds for Michigan State. Electrifying sophomore Coen Carr had 10 points and four rebounds for the Spartans. Tre Holloman also dumped in 14 points in 26 minutes of work.

Illinois had three players in double-figures, Morez Johnson, Jr. (17 points), Kasparas Jakucionis (17 points), and Will Riley (13 points).

The 11th-ranked Spartans moved to 20-5 overall and 11-3 in the Big Ten. Illinois dropped to 17-9 overall and 9-7 in the Big Ten.