During the 2024 Elite Eight press conference, Michigan State coach Tom Izzo raised concerns about the timing of the transfer portal, stating that opening it while teams are still competing in the tournament is unfair to those programs. He later clarified that he does not oppose the transfer portal itself, but believes the process should be structured more fairly and follow an appropriate timeline.
The NCAA has responded to Izzo’s remarks by adopting a 15-day transfer portal window after the national tournament, April 7-21 for men’s basketball and April 6-20 for women’s basketball. This shows the organization’s willingness to adapt its policies.
From Tom Izzo to J.J. Watt, Big Names Blast NCAA’s Mid-Tournament Transfer Portal Window
Last season, Izzo, who led the Spartans to a national title in 2000, criticized the NCAA’s decision to open the transfer portal during the tournament, expressing frustration over managing roster changes while still competing in the Elite Eight.
“So excuse me for being passionate about it, or pissed off about it, whichever words you want to use, but I’m not going to talk about (the transfer portal) because it’s not fair,” he said. “It’s not fair to the people. You could say it’s fair to your program. I’ll run my program like I want to run my program. And if people have a disagreement with that, God bless them.”
Izzo advocates for building a strong program culture and supporting players over four years. Since 2020, his teams have lost only 12 players to the transfer portal, among the lowest totals in college basketball.
Izzo, now 70, maintains he is not against the transfer portal process. Michigan State accepted four transfers this season, and Izzo supports a structured approach that ensures consistency and integrity.
MORE: NCAA Announces Date for 15-Day Transfer Portal Window, Clarifies Mid-Year Eligibility Mayhem
ESPN analyst Dick Vitale was another outspoken critic of the policy. On March 25, he called the transfer portal “ludicrous” and “chaotic” during The Pat McAfee Show.
“We’ve got chaos … they just opened up the transfer portal, which I think is a joke. I think it’s absurd to have the transfer portal (open) during the heart of March Madness,” Vitale said. “I think that’s crazy, it’s ludicrous. … In only one day, about 1,000 kids are in the portal — 1,000! It is total whacky what’s going on.”
Illustrating the breadth of these concerns, former national champion and current Arkansas coach John Calipari criticized the transfer portal in 2023, likening it to the “one-and-done era.”
“It is one-and-done, too,” Calipari said of the portal. “Everybody was mad about a young player coming in and only staying one year. Well, now we’re doing it with older players. It’s the same as one-and-done.”
Calipari, who noted age gaps between programs, once recommended that players transfer only once without penalty and play four years in five.
Last season’s Auburn Final Four team faced portal issues after losing to Florida. With key players like Johni Broome, Chaney Johnson, and Dylan Cardwell graduating, others preparing for the 2024-25 season also entered the portal.
Departures included JP Pegues, Chad Baker-Mazara, Jahki Howard, Presley Patterson, and Addarin Scott, leaving new coach Steven Pearl searching for replacements. Auburn managed to sign Kevin Overton, KeShawn Murphy, Elyjah Freeman, and Keyshawn Hall, who became key contributors this season.
Former NFL star J.J. Watt also criticized the timing of the transfer portal. Watt called the overlap with March Madness “preposterous” and “cannibalizing” to the sport.
“The NCAA transfer portal opening before March Madness ends (same as football portal opening before bowl season ends) is preposterous. Literally cannibalizing your own sport. Imagine NFL free agency starting the Monday after Wild Card Weekend …,” he wrote.
Coaches’ advocacy resulted in the newly enacted transfer portal changes. This achievement could pave the way for addressing other issues, such as transfer sit-out periods and NIL regulations.
Many hope these coaches will continue advocating changes that benefit the sport and its players, helping make the league more exciting and enjoyable for fans worldwide.
