Steven Izzo says 2024-25 Michigan State basketball is one of his favorite teams ever

Through the first seven weeks of the 2024-25 season, Michigan State basketball has a different feel to it, and everyone, especially Steven Izzo, has taken notice.

For the first time in what feels like an eternity, the Spartans are playing vintage Tom Izzo hoops, defending, rebounding, running, and passing at elite levels. The Spartans rank near the top of college basketball in the categories mentioned above and that’s why this team sits at 9-2 and 2-0 in Big Ten play with just two non-conference games left before the new year.

The Spartans have improved in legitimately every aspect compared to a year ago and that’s why they’re considered one of the favorites to win the Big Ten for the first time since 2019-20. They have been playing like they have something to prove.

And Steven Izzo has been impressed.

Although he was on a couple of decent teams during his time as a walk-on in East Lansing, Izzo isn’t afraid to give credit where it’s due. He appeared on Sam and Joey Hauser’s podcast recently and was asked to name his top three teams in the Izzo era. He mentioned the 2019-20 team that won the Big Ten for a third straight year, led by Cassius Winston and Xavier Tillman, and the 2004-05 team that made a Final Four.

Then he listed this year’s team.

Steven Izzo on @onthehauspod says this current Michigan State basketball team is a top three team in the Tom Izzo era👀 pic.twitter.com/0jiA21f4Er

— Michigan State Content (@msucontent) December 20, 2024

Steven went on to say that those three were his favorites, but he compared this year’s squad to the previous two all-time greats because everyone does their part and they play well together. It does feel like there’s more team chemistry this year than there has been in 4-5 seasons thanks to the leadership of Jeremy Fears and Tre Holloman, the rise of Coen Carr, Jaxon Kohler, and Xavier Booker, and the newcomers stepping up like Szymon Zapala, Jase Richardson, and Frankie Fidler.

While this may be one of his favorite teams ever, let’s hope Steven Izzo has real a reason to put them in his top three by the end of the season.