Tom Izzo supports rival Michigan's Sweet 16 pursuit

Tom Izzo, the head coach of Michigan State basketball, is surprising many by supporting his rival, the University of Michigan. On Saturday, Michigan will play Texas A&M for a chance to reach the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament. Izzo's loyalty to the Big Ten conference leads him to cheer for the Wolverines, despite their rivalry. Izzo expressed his feelings, saying he is rooting for all Big Ten teams. "Man, I’m pulling for them all," he said. He admitted that supporting Michigan is unusual for him. Michigan State, a No. 2 seed, won their game against Bryant earlier, making them 8-0 in the tournament's first round. Currently, the Big Ten is performing very well in the tournament. Purdue also advanced to the Sweet 16 on Saturday, bringing the conference's record to 9-0 before Michigan's game starts. Izzo pointed out that the Big Ten often faces criticism, but he believes it is a strong conference with excellent coaches. Despite his team's success against Michigan this season, Izzo remains a proud supporter of the Big Ten. He hopes for continued success as the tournament progresses.