Return to Cleveland made Michigan State’s Tom Izzo feel nostalgic in more ways than one

CLEVELAND - Michigan State coach Tom Izzo admitted to feeling some nostalgia when he returned to the city which served as the opening site for his team’s National Championship run in 2000.  Back then, the Spartans played at the home arena of Cleveland State University, not Rocket Arena, the home of the Cleveland Cavaliers, which will be the site of Friday’s NCAA Tournament First Round game against Bryant. Izzo was asked if there could be some positive superstition or luck this year, due to the Cleveland starting point.  “Yeah, I got the same socks, underwear and hat on,” Izzo joked. “But it is interesting. I called one of my former assistants (Brian Gregory) who's now with the Phoenix Suns, and he said, we started in Cleveland (in 2000).” Izzo said Mateen Cleaves reminded him of the Cleveland connection during a phone conversation as the team took its bus ride from East Lansing to Northeast Ohio on Wednesday, and the possibility that this could be another magical starting off point. More inside.