Michigan State lived up to its billing as a No. 2 seed in the opening round of March Madness, beating Bryant 87-62. And Tom Izzo's second-round game against New Mexico does not come against a blue blood or a coach known for taking teams deep in the tournament—but he is going up against someone who learned, well, just about everything from a NCAA tournament-winning coach.
He'll face Richard Pitino, who has coached the Lobos since 2021. Pitino is the son of Rick Pitino, longtime winner at Louisville and now head coach at St. John's—another No. 2 seed onto the second round in the West.
