Tom Izzo Proves Right Again About State of College Basketball

The current state of college basketball is out of whack again, and Michigan State's Tom Izzo is right to call it out.

Mar 19, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo yells to his team during the second round of the NCAA men s basketball tournament against the Marquette Golden Eagles at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Adam Cairns-The Columbus Dispatch Basketball Ncaa Men S Basketball Tournament Round 2 | Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

London Johnson, a guard who played for multiple teams in the NBA G League last season, committed to playing for Pat Kelsey and the Louisville Cardinals this week. 

Johnson bypassed playing college basketball to join the G League Ignite, a now-defunct developmental minor league basketball team. He is 21 years old and never played in college, and the rules have allowed him two years of collegiate eligibility. 

Dec 22, 2022; Las Vegas, NV, USA; NBA G League Ignite guard London Johnson (2) dribbles the ball during the first half against the Greensboro Swarm at Mandalay Bay Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images | Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images

Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo, who has often spoken against changes in the college basketball landscape, is not a fan of the NCAA allowing Johnson to play for the Cardinals next season. 

It has little to do with Johnson himself and much more to do with the NCAA not making the coaches aware of the decision. 

Izzo on the state of college basketball

Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo exits the court after 70-64 loss to Auburn at the Elite Eight round of NCAA tournament at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Ga. on Sunday, March 30, 2025. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Izzo called it ‘ridiculous’ and ‘embarrassing’ that the NCAA would allow Johnson to play at the collegiate level. 

Izzo even joked that he would call Magic Johnson and several former Spartans who played for him and try to get them to come back and play at Michigan State again. 

And Tom Izzo is right, as he has been about several of the changes surrounding college basketball and how the NCAA has handled them. 

💯 https://t.co/gGIMoB1DUC

— Scott Drew (@BUDREW) October 22, 2025

While Johnson playing his first season of college basketball at 21 years old after spending years in a developmental league is a bit strange, Izzo is right in that the NCAA not informing any coaches of that decision is even worse. 

The NCAA gives players too much power, as they can control where they want to go by leveraging NIL deals and giving them the freedom to transfer as many times as they please. 

Izzo has vocally opposed those rules, and the general opinion has shifted out of favor of them over the last few seasons. While many view the 70-year-olds' takes as curmudgeony, he has a good idea of what is fundamentally right and wrong in the sport. 

🎯 🐐 https://t.co/mkw4XYP7Xa

— Dan Hurley (@dhurley15) October 22, 2025

Johnson will play for Louisville next season; there’s nothing Izzo or anyone opposing the decision can do about it. However, that does not mean that the NCAA has made the right decision. 

Izzo has not been afraid to take on the NCAA, and his opinions usually eventually become universally agreed upon. 

Will any action come as a result of the outrage from this decision? It’s hard to tell, but if it does, Izzo will have been at the forefront.

Keep up with all our Michigan State basketball content when you follow the official Spartan Nation page on Facebook, Spartan Nation, WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE, and be sure to share your thoughts on if Tom Izzo is right about the current state of college basketball when you join our community group, Go Green Go White, WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE.

Don't forget to give us a follow on X @MSUSpartansOnSI as well.