What Does Tom Izzo Need to Do to Get to the Final Four in Detroit in 2027?

The Michigan State Spartans continue to be coached under the legendary Tom Izzo, who has been with the team since 1995 and, at 71, is one of the oldest coaches in NCAA men’s basketball.

But, Izzo is the kind of guy who proves that age is just a number. As the years go by, he seems as passionate and engaged as ever, and both players and coaches from across the NCAA listen when Izzo voices his thoughts. He just has a level of respect from years of hard work and relentless, old-fashioned coaching.

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The Final Four is at Ford Field in Detroit in 2027, and how sweet would it be for Spartan fans to see Izzo and their team on home soil? Izzo can do it, but a few things have to fall into place.

For one, Jeremy Fears Jr. has to come back. This is non-negotiable. Without Fears, unfortunately, it’s hard to see MSU being a serious top five or even top 10 contender. Fears is the backbone of this team, and if the star point guard returns to the Spartans and delays NBA entry, that will be huge for next season. Thankfully, he’ll likely make more in the NIL world than he would in the NBA next season, so that’s a reason for him to stay.

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Secondly, in a world where players transfer schools more often than they change their toothpaste brand, Izzo needs to quickly develop incoming recruits, such as Jasiah Jervis. Getting these players on the court right away and into rotation is what needs to be done, and you never know when you’ll lose them, so train them up and use them while they’re hot and before another team tries to snag them.

Finally, the Spartans have a new big man in 7-foot-2 transfer center Anton Bonke, and he’s really a great fit with this team. Izzo needs to integrate him into the rotation as soon as possible to get the most out of Bonke.

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This story was originally published May 21, 2026 at 11:38 AM.