ATLANTA — As Michigan State struggled with missed layups and inconsistent shooting in their recent game against No. 1 Kansas, you could envision Danny Hurley in Connecticut reacting with frustration. Perhaps he was thinking, “How can we call this a Champions Classic? And aren’t we the ones holding the championship titles?”
“Champions Classic? How the (expletive) do you call that a Classic? And last I checked, aren’t we the (expletive expletive) champions?”
Let’s clarify: Hurley didn’t actually say this, and it’s unclear if he was watching the game. Yet, if he were seeking motivation, he might have found it in this matchup, where the supposed top-ranked team barely scraped by with a 77-69 win against a Michigan State squad that isn’t close to championship-level performance right now.
In fact, as the Final Four approaches this year, Tom Izzo’s only national title will be nearly 25 years old. Perhaps it’s time to reconsider who gets a spot in this high-profile annual event, meant for teams that genuinely earn championships.
Perhaps teams like the ones that have actually claimed five NCAA titles since Izzo’s glory days should take the stage instead.
Why is Michigan State still part of this event? The purpose of the Champions Classic is to draw interest in college basketball by showcasing four prestigious programs for an early-season ESPN event, so it makes sense to feature only the top teams.
Unfortunately, Michigan State no longer fits that bill.
Tom Izzo, who will turn 70 in January, has seen a decline in performance over the past decade. While he still passionately critiques the changes in college sports, decrying how they don’t favor traditional methods,
on the court, the Spartans seem to have lost their competitive edge. While they continue to play tough and physical, they are no longer the formidable team they once were.
Their current leaders include Frankie Fidler, a transfer from Omaha, and Jaxon Kohler, a junior who averaged only 2 points per game last season.
Against Kansas, this presented a stark contrast, revealing their struggles. In honesty, the game was not visually appealing.
“Offensively, we both stunk,” Izzo remarked.
Despite their overall poor shooting—making just 3 of 24 three-pointers and clocking a 35% shooting percentage—Izzo managed to keep the game competitive into the later stages.
However, this wasn’t supposed to be the “Lose Close and Make It Ugly Classic.” This event is intended for the cream of the crop, yet Michigan State’s offensive play might have been the only thing to leave fans feeling frustrated.
“You’ve got to grind games out like this, especially against teams like Michigan State,” noted Kansas guard Dajuan Harris Jr.
That’s not exactly high praise. It’s become predictable; this is the new identity of Michigan State in the past few years: underwhelming, and struggling to qualify for the NCAA Tournament instead of aiming for the trophy. While this is a common scenario for many college basketball teams, some may indeed go deep in the NCAA Tournament next March, and Michigan State could potentially be one of them.
But that misses the larger point.
When Mark Hollis, the former athletic director at Michigan State, proposed this event to ESPN back in 2011, it made sense to pair teams like Michigan State with championship powerhouses like Kentucky, Duke, and Kansas. During that time, Izzo was regularly sending teams to the Final Four and the Spartans were consistently ranked in the top ten.
Yet, this past Tuesday marked the third time in four years that Michigan State appeared at the Champions Classic unranked, and last season, they were only ranked No. 18. In comparison to the elite competition the other teams bring to this event—and considering the potential contributions of a team like UConn—it’s hard to justify Michigan State’s continued inclusion.
Historically, Michigan State maintained its status in this event thanks to consistent performances, not necessarily through winning championships. Today, it’s clear that the Spartans are not on the same level and are remaining in the event based more on past reputation than current success.
Are we witnessing the Champions Classic, or just a “Three Champions and a Middle-of-the-Pack Big Ten Team Classic”?
Izzo is a coach who believes in merit; if Michigan State can’t meet this standard, it’s time to reevaluate their participation in what has become a misleading event.
