St. John’s rips champs, Indiana’s n ext move

I think I heard somewhere there is yet another football game happening this weekend, but I can’t say I’m sure. That’s because I am a College Hoops Guy, and I’m having too much fun. The weekend got off to a sizzling start Friday night as St. John’s knocked off UConn 68-62 in Gampel Pavilion. I have previewed some of today’s top games in my weekly Picks Against the Spread column. And for those of you looking for some long-term strategies to invest your money, our Betting Editor Justin Perri has some more Futures plays for you.

But you don’t come to Hoops HQ just for betting advice. You want access to the newsmakers and the stories behind the stories. So I invite you to check out my deep dive on Michigan State coach Tom Izzo, whom I interviewed last week when the Spartans came through Los Angeles. Everyone assumes Izzo is on the verge of calling it quits like Jay Wright and Tony Bennett did (among others), but I’m not seeing any sign that that is forthcoming. And Tom has never been one to mince words about these things.

There is one coach who is on his way out, however, and that’s Indiana’s Mike Woodson, who will step down at the end of the season. Jeff Goodman has the inside scoop on what happened there and where Indiana might go next. And our Bracketologist Brad Wachtel has updated his Bubble Watch heading into the big weekend. The good news in all of this is that we've just launched a 68 percent off sale — one percent for each team that will make the tourney — on annual subscriptions. That’s just $19.19 for your first year. With March Madness fast approaching, this is your chance to go deep with us. We hope you'll take it!

Enjoy your weekend, everyone, and thanks as always for your continued support of Hoops HQ. —Seth

P.S. Chiefs 27, Eagles 20. You’re welcome.

Tom Izzo Isn’t Going Anywhere: “I Still Have the Fire”

By Seth Davis

Tom Izzo isn’t big on birthdays. It’s not that he doesn’t like to have fun or isn’t grateful for the good things in his life. It’s just that his happens to fall on January 30, right in the heat of the college basketball season. “He’s so ultra focused that he doesn’t have much time to celebrate a birthday,” his wife Lupe laments. “I wish he would a little bit more, but you know Tom."

Izzo may be in the twilight of his career, but there is scant evidence that he is about to call it a night. This goes against conventional wisdom, especially given the recent spate of high-profile coaches who stepped aside the last four years. Izzo predicts that more coaches will follow suit, largely because the job has become so all-encompassing. But he doesn’t sound like he’s going to be one of them anytime soon.

Between the Lines

🏀 Tonight, Dick Vitale will back on the mic, courtside. This is a win for all of college basketball. Hoops HQ Editor in Chief Seth Davis texted with Dickie V to see how he's feeling about his return.

🏀 Maryland has won six of their last eight and is ranked in the Top 25 for the first time in two years. We dive into what — and who — is behind the Terps' turnaround.

🏀 SMU had to get a lot of things right in order to make a smooth transition to the ACC. They did.

No. 6 Florida @ No. 1 Auburn: Another top-10 matchup in The Jungle. This time, the Gators will try to hand the Tigers their first loss in the SEC. Led by national player of the year contender Johni Broome (18.2 points, 10.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.8 blocks per game), Auburn has looked invincible, winning 14 straight games. But if Florida gets hot and controls the glass, it can hang with any team in the country. Hopefully senior guard Walter Clayton Jr., who has been dealing with an ankle injury, is good to go. Either way, you can't miss this one. 4:00 p.m. ET on ESPN2.