Bitter Rivals and Close Friends: Mike Krzyzewski and Tom Izzo Enjoy Squaring Off in Big Games!

Lucas Oil Stadium

Indianapolis, IN

MSU head basketball coach Tom Izzo reached his seventh Final Four as a head coach this season. His best coaching job without question in this reporterâ€™s opinion, but it wasnâ€™t something expected.

Izzo put this season into perspective, â€œI think when you lose a lot of games shooting 55% from the line, about four different losses, when you played in seven overtime games up till yesterday, you lost five of them, that means you were right there. You can look at it like, Well, better coaching, better play would get you to win those close games. I thought we did a heck of a job just to get in those close games early on when we were messing with our lineup and we had a lot of injuries early. I am proud of this team. I'm extremely proud. I think we got three exception players in Valentine, Trice and Dawson. The other guys have started to fit in. It really has been a year that I appreciated just because we weren't. But then again, last year we were picked by the President and everyone else, and we didn't get out of the Elite 8. It doesn't matter who picks us and who doesn't, I just appreciate the respect our program has gotten. Being where we are this year, I think we're still respected, and that's all that matters to me.â€

The Spartans will tip off against number one seed Duke at 6:09 PM ET on Saturday night and the Spartans and the Blue Devils have both traveled a different road to get here. They met here in Indianapolis back in November in a match the Blue Devils won 81-71. Since then both teams have changed. Dramatically.

I asked Duke Head coach Mike Krzyzewski today just how much the Spartans have evolved looking back at the last time they met compared to now. His answer may surprise you. â€œI haven't really watched that much of that game. I think we're both different teams. We have different strategies because we have different teams. It's much better to watch them in the NCAA than in some of their Big Ten games. But the game helped us because the Champions Classic, actually three of the teams are here, prophetic that three of them got here. That's been a good deal for our programs, I think, to play that doubleheader at the start of each year.â€

Izzo had a lot praise when I asked how far the Blue Devils have evolved. â€œI don't think there's any question, they've improved like they should have because of the freshman. He brings them along well. Again, I think it was a new position for Cook kind of, in where he was playing, how he played. He's grown so much. I think some of these other guys, like a Winslow is playing so well in this tournament, Matt Jones has improved so much. So I just think they're a better team. I think we're both not completely different, but I think we're a lot better than we were back then. Yet it was really good for us because we didn't know as much, although I'm not sure he did either, about his freshman. It's easy for you guys to say all these freshmen are going to pan out, but that doesn't always happen. I think it was good for us. I think I learned a lot. I think they're much better and much improved.â€

With 19 combined Final Four appearances between the two coaches, does either have concerns that their team will have trouble refocusing after big time regional championships?

Krzyzewski didnâ€™t. â€œI don't know who expected us to be here. We have eight guys and four freshmen. I think at times you expect a program to be here instead of looking at a team and saying, Boy, they should be here. Our guys deserve to be here, just like Tom's kids. They deserve it because they've earned it. This is all new. It's not about what either of us have done in the past with our teams, it's about what we're doing with this group, and to give their team, make sure they have their moment. He and I have talked about this a lot over the years. It's about being in the kids' moment, not being in our moment.â€

For Izzo he echoed Krzyzewski. His thoughts were a little more reliable as Coach K trying to pull the underdog role for a preseason number two ranked team was laughable hyperbole.

Izzo said, â€œI think, you know, for us, because maybe it wasn't as expected, we had a little rougher run during the year. But when he says about a program, when you get your program to a certain level, I think everybody, you know, that's our expectations, that's what we want our kids' expectations, the media and fans. At the same time getting them ready is no different because we've had a lot of battles throughout the year. We played Duke second game of the year, we played Kansas, we played Notre Dame. Thereâ€™s so many big games. You hope that kids aren't satisfied until they get to the ultimate goal. I think that's why they choose places that have been there before because that's what they want in their own mind.â€

As close as Krzyzewski and Izzo are, meeting in tournaments is fun. For fans and media it is about basketball, but for them it is seeing and old friend. The two of them couldnâ€™t hide their camaraderie. At one point Krzyzewski even grabbed Izzo around the neck like he was choking him. They have been close a long time. So long they struggled to remember when they first met.

Krzyzewski reminisced, â€œWell, it's always been enjoyable. Are you kidding me? This would never, ever get old. I don't remember the first time because Jud Heathcote didn't like his assistants to be seen. He just liked them working all the time. I'm not sure he even knew the names of all the assistants, still might not know the names (smiling). Tom and I are great, great friends. I love that. I love our relationship. But this stuff will never get old.â€

Izzo expressed how the relationship has spilled over from the two rivals and into their personal lives. Izzo added, â€œEven our wives got to be friends because I think they can appreciate what you go through. Even though we don't get to see each other all the time, I think the greatest thing I have for him is respect: respect the way it's been done, respect with the incredible sustaining of consistency. You got to learn from somebody. Some people think I care too much about, you know, what he does, and that's why we can't beat them. But I think you learn from somebody all the time. You appreciate the things that someone's brought to the table. We were on the NABC board. My first year was about your last, I think.â€

Both of these great coaches deserve what they have earned. They are close friend and great competitors. As Saturday inches closer, the competitor comes out stronger and by Saturday night, they may not being faking strangulation. At least for two fun hours.

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