Michigan State's run in the 2026 March Madness came to a halt on Friday, March 27, with a tough loss to Connecticut, 67-63, in the Sweet 16 in Washington.
Coach Tom Izzo didn't shy away from the truth: "We didn't play that good early, I mean it's no secret," he remarked. Despite the setback, Izzo praised his team's resilience against a formidable UConn squad. "I think it showed their true character by coming back like we did against a really good team."
Izzo acknowledged that UConn was a strong opponent, perhaps even stronger than Michigan State. "We thought we had to play our best, we didn't and we fell a little short," he admitted. Key issues included poor defense on the 3-point line early on and some unusual struggles at the free-throw line, going 13-for-18.
The Spartans seemed to have a case of the nerves, which was surprising given their experience in big games. "After all the big games we played in, I didn't think we should've looked nervous, but we did," Izzo noted. An early 22-2 run by UConn set the tone, as they capitalized on Michigan State's shaky start.
Looking ahead, Michigan State's 2026-27 roster is shaping up to be promising, featuring the No. 2-ranked recruiting class in the nation. The potential return of their backcourt and starting wing adds to the excitement for next season.
As for the Final Four, it's set for Saturday, April 4, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, with the NCAA national championship game to follow.