2025-26 Non-Marquette College Basketball Discussion Thread

[muwarrior69]

Izzo upset.

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/46680426/michigan-state-coach-tom-izzo-sounds-ncaa-louisville-signs-former-g-league-player

[The Sultan]

Tom has one or two "old man yells at cloud" moments every year. Probably best for him to move on...or coach D3 or something.

[Nukem2]

Izzo upset.

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/46680426/michigan-state-coach-tom-izzo-sounds-ncaa-louisville-signs-former-g-league-player

Far bigger issue is the sudden rise in foreign players being admitted using similar rationale to admitting the former Ignite players. At least there is a small finite number of those former Ignite players while the new foreign influx is ongoing.

[Shooter McGavin]

Could a three way player like J Lewis come back even if they have had NBA minutes?  Could NBA veterans on the down side of their careers who never got a degree do that?  Maybe a Wade or someone like him as he finishes up his degree?  Or is there a certain time frame and pro level reached that disqualifies them?

[brewcity77]

Izzo upset.

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/46680426/michigan-state-coach-tom-izzo-sounds-ncaa-louisville-signs-former-g-league-player

I'd love to see how 66-year-old Magic Johnson fared playing in college today.

[The Sultan]

Could a three way player like J Lewis come back even if they have had NBA minutes?  Could NBA veterans on the down side of their careers who never got a degree do that?  Maybe a Wade or someone like him as he finishes up his degree?  Or is there a certain time frame and pro level reached that disqualifies them?

No because all of the above examples include players who either used up their eligibility and/or willingly gave it up when they entered the NBA draft.

The issue here is that a player like London Johnson got $1 million when he joined the G-League ignite. Some incoming freshmen are literally getting that right off the bat. So why should Johnson not be able to play college ball?

I get why Izzo is upset by this, but logically there is no reason to keep Johnson from enrolling and playing.

[Uncle Rico]

No because all of the above examples include players who either used up their eligibility and/or willingly gave it up when they entered the NBA draft.

The issue here is that a player like London Johnson got $1 million when he joined the G-League ignite. Some incoming freshmen are literally getting that right off the bat. So why should Johnson not be able to play college ball?

I get why Izzo is upset by this, but logically there is no reason to keep Johnson from enrolling and playing.

What about the tax issues?

[Shooter McGavin]

No because all of the above examples include players who either used up their eligibility and/or willingly gave it up when they entered the NBA draft.

The issue here is that a player like London Johnson got $1 million when he joined the G-League ignite. Some incoming freshmen are literally getting that right off the bat. So why should Johnson not be able to play college ball?

I get why Izzo is upset by this, but logically there is no reason to keep Johnson from enrolling and playing.

So the act of declaring for the NBA disqualifies them because they willingly went pro. And G league and European pro league players are eligible because they unwillingly went pro?   

Also plenty of NBA players have 3 years of eligibility left. 

Declaring for the NBA draft must be the only rule now but that seems like it could change with a lawsuit, especially with players who miscalculated their value. 

[The Sultan]

So the act of declaring for the NBA disqualifies them because they willingly went pro. And G league and European pro league players are eligible because they unwillingly went pro?

You don't really "go pro" in European basketball in the same sense as here. You work with a club as a youth and are offered a contract at some point.

That being said, reading about this last night and they said the NCAA may only do this for the G-League Ignite since that was a team set up for taking kids right out of high school and is now going away.

[Shooter McGavin]

You don't really "go pro" in European basketball in the same sense as here. You work with a club as a youth and are offered a contract at some point.

That being said, reading about this last night and they said the NCAA may only do this for the G-League Ignite since that was a team set up for taking kids right out of high school and is now going away.

That makes more sense to me.  Thanks Sultan.

[The Sultan]

Well, I have no idea if it is accurate or not. I am just trying to understand the NCAA's thinking, which may be a fool's errand I know. But really I am just tired of Tom Izzo complaining about how things have changed. Every industry changes Tom. You either adapt or move on. Or since you are 70, perhaps you should retire.

[Uncle Rico]

Well, I have no idea if it is accurate or not. I am just trying to understand the NCAA's thinking, which may be a fool's errand I know. But really I am just tired of Tom Izzo complaining about how things have changed. Every industry changes Tom. You either adapt or move on. Or since you are 70, perhaps you should retire.

For his sake, it looks like rape is ok nowadays

[MU82]

Well, I have no idea if it is accurate or not. I am just trying to understand the NCAA's thinking, which may be a fool's errand I know. But really I am just tired of Tom Izzo complaining about how things have changed. Every industry changes Tom. You either adapt or move on. Or since you are 70, perhaps you should retire.

Yup. Izzo had absolutely no problem making $10M a year while his players were unpaid and had very limited freedom of movement. Thankfully, those times are over, at least as far as the players are concerned.

[MuMark]

I think Izzo's complaints are valid in this case.........and from what I understand many other coaches who are not 70 agree with him........I would bet money( ok maybe not the right joke today lol) that Shaka agrees with him.

Things change.......that doesn't mean every change is good or done for the right reason.

Lots of people have issues with the ncaa.......shouldn't be surprising that coaches have issues too.

I also don't think it's fair to say to any coach that voices displeasure with one policy change or another....." you should just retire"

[tower912]

I think Izzo's complaints are valid in this case.........and from what I understand many other coaches who are not 70 agree with him........I would bet money( ok maybe not the right joke today lol) that Shaka agrees with him.

Things change.......that doesn't mean every change is good or done for the right reason.

Lots of people have issues with the ncaa.......shouldn't be surprising that coaches have issues too.

I also don't think it's fair to say to any coach that voices displeasure with one policy change or another....." you should just retire"

Izzo's words match Shaka's actions.  He recalled being asked for a million dollars for a transfer during g media day.  He hasn't taken a D1 transfer since.

Basically, what he is saying is....I understand the system.  It isn't how I am going to do it.

[The Sultan]

I think Izzo's complaints are valid in this case.........and from what I understand many other coaches who are not 70 agree with him........I would bet money( ok maybe not the right joke today lol) that Shaka agrees with him.

Things change.......that doesn't mean every change is good or done for the right reason.

Lots of people have issues with the ncaa.......shouldn't be surprising that coaches have issues too.

I also don't think it's fair to say to any coach that voices displeasure with one policy change or another....." you should just retire"

I'm saying that because Tom repeated complains about changes. Not just in this case.

Regardless, I really don't care what the coaches like or dislike - including Shaka. This is the job you are paid a lot to do. Deal with it.

And I don't think it is valid in this case. Why should anyone care that players who made money are coming to the NCAA...only to be able to make money playing college ball? It logically doesn't make sense.

[muwarrior69]

You don't really "go pro" in European basketball in the same sense as here. You work with a club as a youth and are offered a contract at some point.

That being said, reading about this last night and they said the NCAA may only do this for the G-League Ignite since that was a team set up for taking kids right out of high school and is now going away.

Can kids go to the G-league right out of high school? If so, would kids coming right out of high school going to the G-league be ineligible to play college ball?

[WhiteTrash]

Regardless, I really don't care what the coaches like or dislike - including Shaka. This is the job you are paid a lot to do. Deal with it.

I think it is foolish to not allow the coaches a seat at the table for all this. I'm not saying their opinions should carry the day, but they could prove valuable in the process.

I include employees at all levels in decisions that they have knowledge of and could directly impact them and their work. JMHO

[Uncle Rico]

I think it is foolish to not allow the coaches a seat at the table for all this. I'm not saying their opinions should carry the day, but they could prove valuable in the process.

I include employees at all levels in decisions that they have knowledge of and could directly impact them and their work. JMHO

This is the NCAA you're talking about. 

[The Sultan]

I think it is foolish to not allow the coaches a seat at the table for all this. I'm not saying their opinions should carry the day, but they could prove valuable in the process.

I include employees at all levels in decisions that they have knowledge of and could directly impact them and their work. JMHO

The NCAA is making most of the decisions it does due to not wanting to lose lawsuits.

[WhiteTrash]

The NCAA is making most of the decisions it does due to not wanting to lose lawsuits.

I can accept the reality that the NCAA does not want the coaches involved. I was simply taking an opposing position to your opinion that "I really don't care what the coaches like or dislike"

[MU82]

Can kids go to the G-league right out of high school? If so, would kids coming right out of high school going to the G-league be ineligible to play college ball?

Can, and often do.

To date, they had been ineligible to play college ball, but that has changed with this case we're all discussing here.