Izzo wins again. In other news, water is wet.

Let's call it like it is: Michigan State probably should not still be playing.

Kalin Lucas is done for the season after tearing his achilles tendon in the first half in the Spartan's second round game against Maryland. Chris Allen is playing on a bum foot. Delvon Roe's surgically repaired knee has been giving him problems in the tournament, which wasn't helped by the shot he took early in the game to that knee.

This is a team that has dealt with focus, leadership, and, in reality, just about any kind of issue that can plague a team. They lost five of their last ten games coming into the tournament, blowing a three game lead in the conference at the midway point and getting knocked out in the opening round of the Big Ten tournament.

Don't be shocked when Izzo takes this team to the Final Four.
(photo credit: ESPN)

This is a team that got beaten by Illinois the last time they played without Lucas. Illinois is not the defensive team that Northern Iowa is, and Korie Lucious, starting in the place of Lucas, had six turnovers and looked overwhelmed trying to run the team.

This is a team that found themselves down 29-22 at the break, looking positively atrocious offensively in the first half, shooting just 7-22 from the field.

I doubt I'm the only one that was starting to toy with the idea of an Elite 8 involving Tennessee and Northern Iowa.

But this is Tom Izzo we're talking about.

And you don't doubt Tom Izzo in March.

They came out in the second half a different team. The Spartans were able to get the ball inside and score, which in turn opened up some space on the perimeter for Spartans shooters to get free.

All told, Michigan State hit eight of their first nine shots to open the second half, going on a 21-8 run to open the half, taking a 43-37 lead eight minutes in and nearly equaling the number of points they scored in the first 20 minutes. From then on, it was the Spartan's defense that took over, holding UNI to just 10 free throws over the final 10:22 of the game, getting a couple impressive buckets from Raymar Morgan and Lucious in the final two minutes to give the Spartans the win.

So what is it about Izzo?

The man is 28-9 in the NCAA Tournament this decade. His Spartans have been in 13 straight fields, reaching nine Sweet 16's, five Final Fours, and winning a national title in 2000. After beating Northern Iowa, he is now a win over sixth-seeded Tennessee away from making yet another Final Four. I get that this year a Final Four run will have been aided by a crumbling Midwest Region, much like his trip to the 2001 Final Four was.

But isn't that the point?

While high seeds are getting upset all around him, Izzo simply keeps on winning, the Goliath seemingly immune to the stones thrown by David.

So I ask again, what is it about Izzo that makes him so good in the tournament?

For starters, I'm not sure there is a better in-game coach than Izzo. You need a game plan drawn up, call Izzo. You're not sure what adjustments need to be made at halftime, call Izzo. Who do you go to in crunch time? Izzo probably knows.

There's also something to be said for the confidence Izzo and his team probably has in the tournament these days. Think about it like this: Korie Lucious was 2-8 from the floor on the night. With 1:30 left in the game and the Spartans up 53-51, Izzo called Lucious's number, isolating him in a 1-4 set and allowing him to go 1-on-1 and make a play.

His response?

A crossover into a spin back the other way, hitting a fadeaway off of one foot from 15 feet away. That's not an easy shot.

And Lucious buried it.

But maybe, just maybe, could it be that there is no rhyme or reason to his success?

Could it be that he just knows his players and knows how to win the tournament?

Is it too simple to say that Izzo is just a great coach?