WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) -- Tom Crean was an anonymous graduate assistant at Michigan State in 1990 when he rented a room from equally unknown Spartans assistant Tom Izzo.
Nearly two decades later, Crean coaches against his mentor, former landlord and close friend for the first time tonight when Marquette plays the Spartans in the first round of the East Regional of the NCAA men's basketball tournament.
The game is in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
It will be broadcast on NewsChannel 7 beginning at 6:20 p.m.
Crean says it will be the first time in his life he hasn't been rooting for Izzo to win.
Izzo once had Crean on his staff before Marquette hired Crean in 2000.
