On Selection Sunday, Michigan State came in as a 2-seed in the south region. The Spartans, making their 27th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, are attempting to make their first deep run in the tournament since 2019.
The road will open on Friday night, when the Spartans face off against the Bryant Bulldogs of the America East conference. The Bulldogs are coached by Phil Martelli Jr., the son of legendary college basketball coach Phil Martelli.
The senior Martelli was a longtime coach at Saint Joseph, but was most recently the associate head coach at Michigan. Notably, Martelli and Tom Izzo are very good friends, and their relationship is well noted. With the relationship between Martelli and Izzo, Martelli Jr. has received some of the benefits of the close relationship with Izzo.
The head man of the Bulldogs spoke to the media after the selection show on Sunday, and noted some very cool moments he had with Izzo. Martelli Jr. noted how Izzo was one of the first calls he received when he got the job at Bryant, while also receiving a call from Izzo after the Bulldogs won the America East conference championship.
See Martelli Jr.’s full comments via X:
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