Michigan State's Tom Izzo heads into March Madness with nothing to prove

There's an idea in the state of Michigan that legendary Michigan State head basketball coach Tom Izzo needs to go out on top.

He's already an icon — he's led one of the best programs in college basketball since 1995 and brought a championship to East Lansing, but that was back in 1999-00.

That means it's been 25 years since the Spartans were champions, but Izzo isn't letting that type of pressure get to him ahead of March Madness. In fact, even as a 2-seed with some high expectations on them, he says he's comfortable with where the Spartans are at.

“I don’t have nothing to prove. I really don’t,” Izzo recently told the media (h/t On3). “I’m comfortable in my own skin where the program is at. Two years ago we were in a Sweet Sixteen. If we win that game, we lose in overtime, we may be in a Final Four that year. It’s amazing how that works."

It sounds like Izzo is doing his best to not get caught up in the "what have you done for me lately?" culture of college sports. He mentioned that he saw an article written recently that MSU hasn't been to the Final Four in five years. 

"Some haven’t been there in 30," Izzo exclaimed.

If anything, Izzo's long tenure in East Lansing has taught him that it's tough to do anything in the one-and-done format of the NCAA Tournament, and that's what makes March Madness so exciting for fans.

However, the improbability of it all doesn't stop the pressure.

“Unfortunately we see coaches getting fired because people don’t understand how difficult it is,” Izzo said. “I’m not proving anything in the NCAA tournament. I’m hoping to continue to win games but I’m smart enough to know, and I think most of you are, because the reason it’s called one and done is because one bad minute and you’re out."

That's part of the magic of it, but that's also why Izzo feels that a run — or lack or a run — won't necessarily prove anything about his legacy.

Either way, MSU will look to avoid being a one-and-done as the No. 2 Spartans take on No. 15 Bryant on Friday evening in the first round in the South Region.