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March Madness puts Izzo-led Michigan State in conversation with bluebloods Kentucky, North Carolina

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan State has joined some rare air in college basketball history over the last half-century with coaching longevity and NCAA titles.

Since 1976, the Spartans have had just two coaches and both won a national championship.

Hall of Famer Tom Izzo cut down the nets in 2000 and Jud Heathcote won it all in 1979.

Kentucky, North Carolina and Michigan State are the three programs to have two basketball coaches in a span of at least four decades with each winning a national championship that was not vacated due to violating NCAA rules.