When Michigan State was drawn into Cleveland for the first and second rounds of the NCAA men's tournament, it probably didn't expect to play its opening game well past 9 p.m. Eastern Time.
That's the fate that befell the Spartans, however—and they made the most of it, overcoming a slow start to demolish Bryant 87–62.
Did this performance earn Michigan State an earlier start time for the second round Sunday? It did not. The Spartans will play New Mexico at 8:40 p.m. Eastern Time. When told of this development, Michigan State coach Tom Izzo had a priceless reaction.
After working through a pained facial expression, he deadpanned, "Guess it's an hour earlier."
Izzo will encounter a recognizable figure in the second round since Coach Richard Pitino of the Lobos is at the helm. Minnesota from 2014 to '21. In 2019, their two squads met in the second round of the NCAA tournament in Des Moines—with the Spartans winning 70–50.
More March Madness on Sports Illustrated
This piece was initially released on www.si.com as Tom IzzoHad an Understandable Response to the Starting Time of Michigan State's Second-Round Game .
