At 70 years old, Tom Izzo might be one of the rare old-school guys in college basketball. He still values commitment, development, and, dare we say it, loyalty- something that seems to be going obscure in the NIL era. However, with players being swapped left and right, in the middle of the tournament, his hallmark does risk turning into his Achilles heel. And those are exactly the kind of questions that rose up on Monday after the NCAA transfer portal opened—just hours after No. 2-seated Michigan State secured its spot in the Sweet 16.

As expected, a wave of players entered their names into the portal, including Michigan freshman guard Justin Pippen. The timing couldn’t have been more jarring, considering that the team is headed to Atlanta with a potential historic Elite Eight matchup on the horizon. So, it was no surprise that Izzo, despite having no interest in talking about the transfer portal (we understand. He’s been going off about it for too long), went on a rant about something he’s already called a “urinal” and “waste of time”. 

When asked how he and his staff were balancing recruiting in the portal while staying locked in on the championship hunt, Izzo didn’t just give a quick response—he spent nearly a third of his 45-minute press conference explaining his stance. And it’s clear he sees the portal as a challenge to the very foundation of his coaching philosophy.

Izzo, a man who’s led Michigan to 26 straight tournament appearances, has built his empire on long-term player development. He’s not one to chase after quick fixes. Instead, he molds raw talent into NBA-caliber players, a philosophy he learned from his mentor, Jud Heathcote. And he made sure to remind us of it: “The problem with you new, young guys is you’re always trying to replace the guys you got instead of making the guys you got better.”

That statement alone speaks volumes. To Izzo, loyalty to his players comes first. He believes that if a coach invests in his team, the players should reciprocate by sticking around to develop. He doubled down on that philosophy, saying:

“If you’re loyal to your players and they want to get better, then your obligation is to the people that you brought here. Now, if they don’t want to get better or they aren’t doing their job, there’ll be more runoffs. Could happen here, could happen somewhere else. But the last thing I want to do is cheat my players.”

For Izzo, “cheating” doesn’t mean breaking rules—it means turning to the portal instead of investing in the players who committed to him. He made it clear he’s not about to change his ways.

“So, Jud, I followed what you said. I’m going to worry today about the guys I got in this program that have done an incredible job this year. And that’s it. And if that costs me later, so be it. But Tom Izzo isn’t cheating the people that he has that have been loyal to him for this chaos that is going on out there.”

And let’s be real—despite the chaos of the transfer portal, Izzo’s system is still working. His team isn’t just surviving in March Madness—they’re thriving. The Spartans have proven their mettle this tournament, dominating Bryant in the first round with an 87-62 victory. Freshman forward Coen Carr was a revelation off the bench, dropping a career-high 18 points while grabbing nine rebounds.

The second round, however, was a battle. Michigan State trailed at halftime but showcased its resilience in the second half, pulling out a 71-63 win over New Mexico. This time, it was Jaden Akins who led the charge with 16 points, while Tre Holloman made key plays down the stretch to help seal the victory.

What’s been the common denominator in both wins? Defense. The Spartans’ identity has been built on their ability to disrupt opponents, force turnovers, and control the tempo. Their defensive tenacity allows them to create scoring opportunities and capitalize on second-chance points.

And let’s not forget depth—an underrated factor in Michigan State’s success. Players like Carr have stepped up in crucial moments, giving the Spartans a major boost when it matters most. This all points back to Izzo’s leadership. He doesn’t need to raid the transfer portal to build a winner—he’s doing it the old-school way, and it’s paying off. Case in point? Earlier this season, Michigan State’s victory over Indiana marked Izzo’s 354th Big Ten win, a testament to his sustained excellence in one of the toughest conferences in college basketball.

But Izzo wasn’t just defending his philosophy—he was taking a stand against how the transfer portal debate is framed in the media.

Tom Izzo vs. the chaos: Can the Spartans’ defense carry them to the elite eight?

After passionately explaining his stance, he turned the conversation back to what truly matters to him: the team’s current run. “But the weekend, that excites me,” Izzo said, shifting focus to the Spartans’ Sweet 16 matchup.

He then called out the media for focusing on the wrong things, adding:

“You’re talking about something that is wrong, what we’re doing. Because it’s not. We always talk about what’s fair to the kids. That’s what the NCAA. That’s what everybody in. That’s what the media… I’m going to do what’s fair to the kids, and I’m going to give them every ounce of energy I have until we lose. Then, I’ll worry about the next stage.”

Izzo isn’t just here to prove a point—he’s here to win. And now, standing between Michigan State and the Elite Eight is a dangerous Ole Miss team that has already taken down some giants. The Rebels, a No. 6 seed, knocked out North Carolina in the first round—a team many thought had Final Four potential. Then, they eliminated Iowa State, proving their first win wasn’t just a fluke.

Their success is backed by numbers. Ole Miss ranks 21st in KenPom, boasting the 24th-ranked offense and 21st-ranked defense. They’re balanced, disciplined, and fearless in big moments.

But don’t mistake Michigan State for an easy target. The Spartans are ranked seventh in KenPom with the fifth-best defense in the nation. Defense has been their calling card all season, and in a high-stakes, win-or-go-home setting, that’s a major advantage. Their ability to dictate the pace, crash the boards, and force tough shots has been the foundation of their tournament success. But the question is: Can Michigan State keep up? Absolutely.

If the Spartans stick to what they do best—lock in defensively, control the glass, and capitalize on their depth—they’ll be in a prime position to move on. The odds are slightly in their favor (-3.5 spread, -160 moneyline according to USA today), but as we’ve seen throughout March Madness, nothing is guaranteed.

One thing is for sure, though—Tom Izzo isn’t looking ahead to the offseason or worrying about the transfer portal. He’s locked in on this weekend, his team, and the challenge ahead. And if history tells us anything, betting against an Izzo-coached team in March is never a safe gamble.