Michigan State basketball: Tom Izzo is becoming the next Rick Pitino
Michigan State has another scandal on its hands after Miles Bridges has been alleged to receiving improper payments. It’s another strike against Tom Izzo, who’s resembling a now infamous coach.
A bombshell report has come out early Friday morning, concerning college basketball’s “pay to play” continuing scandal. It’s a continuation of the FBI’s Investigation into corruption and bribery into the sport, with countless players and programs involved.
In the latest set of news, documents pertaining to the investigation showed the financial transactions between sports agents and individual players. Some of the top schools in the country were named, including Duke, North Carolina, Texas and Kentucky.
Another school involved was Michigan State, more specifically star player Miles Bridges. It is alleged that his mother received nearly $500 from potential agents, though it’s unclear if Bridges himself knew anything of it.
It’s very important to be clear that even in the scenario of the player knowing nothing about the situation, it’s still a NCAA violation for anyone with immediate ties to a player to receive improper benefits.
But the Spartan who should be under the real microscope is Head Coach Tom Izzo, who allegedly had dinners with Christian Dawkins, a man who was arrested before the season and has numerous examples of his dirty dealings. Parents and players were named in this report, but Izzo was the only coach named.
This is an awful time for Izzo for this news, as he’s still dealing with the fallout of his handling of the basketball program when it comes to sexual assaults and violence against women. He’s been silent thus far, hiding behind the administration.
The constant scandals and negative press is starting to put the Hall-of-Famer in the same ring as another legend – Rick Pitino of Louisville. He himself was brought down by multiple scandals, ranging from prostitutes being in the dorm rooms of players, to being directly involved in the payment of a top-tier recruit.
After nearly 20 years of a nearly spotless record, Izzo’s reputation is coming undone. From allegedly turning a blind eye to the misconduct of those on the basketball team, to possibly being involved with improper recruiting practices.
Of course, the Spartan head coach is innocent until proven guilty, but I’m of the belief that when there’s smoke, there’s fire. And right now there’s just too much going on the Michigan State program to believe that Izzo is just an innocent of no wrongdoing.
He was one of the great one’s, both on and off the basketball court. Now it’s getting to he point where like Pitino, Izzo’s days may be numbered.