| Why You Care: Dan Hurley is in his eighth season as the coach of the UConn Huskies. Picking up the pieces of the disastrous end of the Kevin Ollie era, Hurley failed to qualify for March Madness in his first season at the helm, then saw the 2019-2020 season marred by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since then, it's been six tournament appearances in as many seasons. The Huskies went winless in their first two appearances under Hurley, losing twice as a higher seed. Things picked up from there, as UConn captured back-to-back national titles in 2023 and 2024, vaulting Hurley into the elite coaching ranks. The comedown arrived last season, when a third-place finish in the Big East eventually resulted in a second round loss to eventual champion Florida by a bucket.
Hurley's "championship or bust" reign stands in contrast to what Tom Izzo has built in East Lansing. In his 31 seasons leading the Spartans, Izzo has taken his team to the Sweet 16 a total of 17 times, to the Elite Eight 11 times, to the Final Four eight times, and to the title game twice, winning it all in 2000.
But Michigan State hasn't played for a national championship since 2009 or made a Final Four since 2019. Izzo's teams are tournament mainstays without being a threat to win it all in most seasons. Can they change that? The Spartans boast Jeremy Fears Jr., who leads the NCAA in assists per game (9.4) and is the sort of standout point guard that fueled Izzo's best teams in the past, including Mateen Cleaves on that 2000 title team. A top-15 defense gives Michigan State a familiar rugged edge.
New kid on the block or the familiar face in the neighborhood? Friday night, we'll see if Izzo has built another title contender, or if Hurley's ready for another run at the crown after a one-year hiatus. | 
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