WASHINGTON (AP) — It was well past midnight on Saturday morning after Tom Izzo’s Michigan State Spartans came up short in the Sweet 16, when the 71-year-old coach was asked where he sees himself in five years.
“Trying to win a national championship — plain and simple,” he said.
Izzo has guided Michigan State to eight Final Fours and captured the Big Ten’s most recent national title in men's basketball in 2000. He wouldn’t take much heat if he decided he wanted to get out of the game like so many of his peers have — in a new day and age dominated by the transfer portal and name, image and likeness.
Instead, it sounds like he's not even considering such a scenario.
“We all talk about retirement,” Izzo said after the Spartans lost 67-63 to UConn. “Why? What the hell am I going to do? The minute I don’t feel good, the minute I don’t feel like I’m giving my AD or president or school every ounce of energy I have every day or that energy drops, you don’t have to worry about it. I don’t steal money. I won’t steal anybody’s time.”
Izzo hasn't been to the Final Four since 2019 — the longest drought of his career. But he immediately called the Spartans' future bright after Jeremy Fears and Coen Carr — both with eligibility remaining — left the postgame podium after a tough loss in which Michigan State trailed 25-6 before coming back to take the lead in the second half.
“Tomorrow I’m going to the portal,” Izzo said.
“The only difference is the portal at Michigan State is different than the portal at most places. I’m going right to my frickin’ locker room, and I’m going to talk to each and every player right there. I’m going to make some decisions about what we’re going to do that I feel very comfortable with.”
Izzo expects to return seven to eight players to go along with what he described as a strong freshman class.
“I’m the luckiest guy in the world. I’m just not lucky enough to be playing on Sunday,” Izzo said. “I’ll get to play on another Sunday. Hang around.”
AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness
Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo reacts to a call during the first half in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA college basketball tournament against UConn, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo yells during the second half in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA college basketball tournament against UConn, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
SEATTLE (AP) — If Cleveland Guardians rookie outfielder Chase DeLauter were to respond to one of his unread text messages, he’d have to reply to the 803 other ones on his phone, too.
All DeLauter has done in his first two career major league games is hit three home runs, and added his name alongside some elite company.
He has become the fifth player in Cleveland’s 126-year franchise history to hit a home run in his first career regular-season at-bat, and the third player since at least 1900 with three home runs in his first two career regular-season games, joining Trevor Story (2016) and Joe Cunningham (1954).
So, yeah, there’s a reason why DeLauter hasn’t punctually replied to his fringe friends or distant relatives.
“I’m making sure I’m getting (back to) the close people in my life and everything like that,” DeLauter said. “But, unfortunately, if anyone that’s listening texted me, I’m sorry. I’m just not going to get to all of them.”
What DeLauter seemingly hasn’t missed are any pitches thrown his way. Through the first pair of regular-season games of his career, DeLauter is 4 for 9 with three home runs, including two in his first regular-season game, with an unsustainable 1.888 OPS.
DeLauter’s latest home run came in the first inning of Friday’s 5-1 loss to the Seattle Mariners. He launched a 1-0 slider by Seattle starter George Kirby and hit it 360 feet to right field, just out of a leaping Luke Raley’s reach.
“It wasn’t one of those ones that hit the sweet spot of the bat,” DeLauter said. “But, you play good angles, give yourself a chance, you know?”
Through two games, DeLauter has lived up to his billing as a top prospect, and proven his solid spring was not an aberration. DeLauter, who Cleveland selected 16th overall in the 2022 amateur draft, made Cleveland’s opening day roster after hitting .452 with three home runs and nine RBIs in spring training.
What he has done since then is impress teammates like Friday night starter Gavin Williams.
“It’s insane,” Williams said. “I’m honestly glad him and José Ramírez are on my team. Those two guys are unbelievable, especially what DeLauter’s done in these first few games.”
Whether DeLauter can continue his string of success remains to be seen. As manager Stephen Vogt said Thursday, every young big leaguer inevitably has to deal with a learning curve at some point. Odds are DeLauter will be no different.
In the meantime, DeLauter is enjoying the ride, especially since his current hitting tear is relatively unfamiliar territory. DeLauter said there was one point he homered in back-to-back games in the minors, but otherwise hasn’t matched this level of production.
The Frederick, Maryland, native isn’t in a head space where he can fully process the company he is joining with his home runs. At the very least, it has made for an enjoyable journey for his family and friends — even the ones he hasn’t texted back yet.
“Oh, they love it. It’s a blast,” DeLauter said of his family members. “Regardless of the outcome of the games or how I’m doing, they’ve never really lived this life before.”
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb
Seattle Mariners right fielder Luke Raley can't catch the solo home run from Cleveland Guardians' Chase DeLauter during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Cleveland Guardians' Chase DeLauter hits a solo home run against the Seattle Mariners during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Cleveland Guardians' Chase DeLauter runs the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
