Like St. John’s Red Storm head coach Rick Pitino, Michigan State Spartans bench boss Tom Izzo believes that the NCAA Tournament selection committee could use the help of some legendary minds in the college basketball scene.
“I’m appreciative of being in, and I wouldn’t have felt any different if I was out, but I think it would be best if people who’ve been in the game and have been around,” Izzo said on Wednesday ahead of Thursday’s first-round matchup against the Mississippi State Bulldogs (h/t ESPN).
“[They] understand when you lose a game and something happens — you play three tough games in a row; analytics don’t show injuries or they show when a guy misses a game but not when he plays hurt,” Izzo added.
Michigan State Spartans’ Tom Izzo Echoes Rick Pitino’s Sentiment
On Tuesday, Pitino, whose team is widely viewed as among the top March Madness snubs, sent out a message on X (formerly Twitter) calling for the NCAA to include some retired head coaches in the committee that deliberates who gets to secure at-large berths for the Big Dance.
“Have a great suggestion for Dan Gavitt, who is absolutely the best. I know three guys who are watching games all year n would be a great addition. They won’t just look at certain metrics. Jim Boeheim, Roy Williams n Coach K. They need to be part of selection Sunday!!!,” Pitino said.
In any case, the the ninth-seeded Spartans are going dancing and they will be looking to do better than they did in 2023. Last year, Michigan State reached the Sweet Sixteen Round where they lost to the Kansas State Wildcats.
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