Tom Izzo: Coaching blood will help Valpo's Bryce Drew in NCAA Tournament

Auburn Hills — When Valparaiso coach Bryce Drew leads his team against Michigan State on Thursday in the Midwest Region of the NCAA Tournament, he'll be on the low end in terms of coaching experience — and it won't even be close.

While Drew is in his second season at Valparaiso and making his first appearance in the tournament, on the other end of the floor will be Michigan State coach Tom Izzo, who is merely making his 16th straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament, with six Final Fours and a national title in 2000.

Izzo remembers his initial appearance in the NCAA Tournament, in 1998: "I think my first time was against Eastern Michigan of all teams and then Princeton."

That was Izzo's third year at Michigan State and the Spartans knocked off both Eastern Michigan and Princeton before losing to North Carolina in the Sweet 16. However, Izzo believes his experience was different than it will be for Drew.

Drew made his name in this tournament as a player at Valparaiso when his father, Homer, was the coach. Izzo believes that will keep Drew from becoming rattled by the situation when the ball tips at 12:15 p.m. Thursday at The Palace.

"He's been around it," Izzo said. "The difference is he's played the game. He's played at other levels. He lived it with his dad. You know, I was from the UP; it was a little different up there.

"So I think once you grew up in it that way, I think it'll be a little easier for him to handle, and he's done such a great job there with his team. They've won a lot of games and, you know, am I going to feel sorry for him? No. And do I have great respect for him? Yes. I think he'll handle it well."