Column: Michigan State won Big Ten Championship by getting back to Tom Izzo’s roots

Overtwomonthsago,Ihadwrittenthefollowingsentiment:“MichiganStateisn’taplacewherefansdeclareaseasontobesuccessfulbasedonregularseasonstretchesorgeneralvibes,butbasedonbannersanddeepMarchruns.Yet,despitethatuniversaltruth,youwillbehard-pressedtofindanMSUhoopsfanthatwoulddisagreewiththenotionthattheprogramappearstobe‘back.’It’sdeeperthanresults,it’saboutidentity.” Well,theSpartanshavenowgoneaheadandaddedabannertogoalongwiththeaforementionedresurgenceofprogramidentity. WithMaryland’swinoverMichiganonWednesday,MichiganStatehasclinchedatleastashareofthe2025BigTenChampionship–officiallygivingtangiblevalidationthattheprogramisbacktoitsformerlyrightfulplaceatoptheBigTen. ThisisHallofFameheadcoachTomIzzo’s11thBigTenChampionshipin30seasons,givinghimanabsurd36.7%conferencetitlewinningpercentageinhiscareer.ThisisMSU’sfirstBigTentitlesincethe2019-20season,which