Kirk Herbstreit Reacts To Tom Izzo’s Transfer Portal Rant
The NCAA transfer portal officially opened on Monday, but don’t expect Michigan State coach Tom Izzo to be very active this week.
During his media availability on Tuesday, Izzo faced a few questions about the transfer portal opening up in the middle of the NCAA Tournament. Schools that have been eliminated from the dance could get an early start on improving their rosters. The Spartans, however, are getting ready for a date in the Sweet 16.
With that said, Izzo refuses to let the transfer portal distract him from potentially making a Final Four run this March.
“What my team’s done has been incredible, and I’m not ready to move on,” Izzo told reporters. “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 then 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.”
Izzo continued, “When I came back Sunday night, there was nothing on my mind but giving these guys a chance to win one more game, get to Elite Eight, and one more game, and have a memory that will last their entire life, their kid’s life, and their grandkid’s life.”
On Wednesday morning, ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit shared his thoughts on Izzo’s rant. Unsurprisingly, he loved what the veteran coach had to say about the transfer portal.
“Love this,” Herbstreit said. “Speaks for many.”
Herbstreit isn’t the only person who loved this passionate speech from Izzo. If anything, his take on the transfer portal should be viewed as refreshing.
Will Izzo’s comments inspire the NCAA to push back its opening date for the transfer portal in 2026? We’re not entirely sure.
All we can say for certain is Izzo’s players will be locked in for the Sweet 16.
