It’s been quite the day to be a Michigan State basketball fan.
Being a Spartan basketball fan isn’t for the faint of heart, especially since 2000, but Michigan State has actually spoiled its fanbase over the past 25 years with Final Fours, Big Ten titles, ranked wins, elite players, and no missed NCAA Tournaments. Oh, and the Spartans are led by one of the best head coaches in college basketball.
Now, Michigan State’s biggest rival, which is coming off its first national title since many of us were born, is without a head coach as Dusty May has reportedly finalized a deal to become the Dallas Mavericks’ next head coach.
That’s right, the coach who put Michigan back on the map in just two years is leaving for the NBA after claiming that he was happy in Ann Arbor and wasn’t looking to move on.
That was apparently not the case.
May decided to pass up on potential opportunities to coach the Bulls and the Magic and instead took the Mavericks job where he’ll be coaching a Cooper Flagg-led team.
The internet was shocked on Monday morning when the news broke, but the two rival fanbases took the news completely differently. Michigan fans were obviously devastated while Michigan State fans took to the internet in celebration because for the second time over the past few years, the Wolverines have lost a national title-winning coach months after winning it all.
Best Michigan State social media reactions to the Dusty May news
Michigan State fans took the news well and had an absolute field day on Twitter.
Michigan State has generations of Spartans return every year to reunite for a family reunion because of Tom Izzo. 30 years of relationships that have bonded teammates, coaches, managers, fans together for a lifetime. That can never be bought from a transfer portal
— MSU Chief of Propaganda (@OdellBretthamJr) June 22, 2026
ALEXA PLAY “LOYALTY” BY KENDRICK LAMAR pic.twitter.com/RgEE71jSmC
— joey spartan (or Salt🧂) (@saltysparty) June 22, 2026
Tom Izzo walking into the Breslin today: pic.twitter.com/7y8RXzv6L5
— Brenton Kelley (@CBSBrenton) June 22, 2026
Stepping stone U https://t.co/bRviFXqMB6
— LIONS SUPERFAN(KneeCap Chronicles) (@SuperFanHutch) June 22, 2026
you can buy a team, you can even buy an entire national title - but you can never buy a program.
— Justin Thind (@JustinThind) June 22, 2026
JUNE 15, 2010
— Justin Spiro (@DarkoStateNews) June 22, 2026
Tom Izzo announces he’s staying.
The coach rejected a five-year, $30 million offer from the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Surrounded by his players at a packed press conference, Izzo was asked why he turned down a deal that would have doubled his salary.
“Michigan State… pic.twitter.com/sdsA3C7M82
Showed up, cheated and tampered, bought a team and a ring, then bounced at the first opportunity to move to the big show?
— Peach - CPT (@msupeach) June 22, 2026
Surprise surprise pic.twitter.com/NxXeoQSnSb
Back to your normally scheduled programming of Michigan State running the conference. pic.twitter.com/2ViRd7F4j0
— Michigan State Country (@CountryMichSt) June 22, 2026
Mel Tucker had a better winning percentage in the Michigan State/Michigan rivalry than Dusty May did
— sarge (@sarge____) June 22, 2026
Turned down multiple NBA jobs to make Michigan State his forever home. We will never see loyalty like this again. A real leader of men pic.twitter.com/YjoVcA023Z
— MSU Chief of Propaganda (@OdellBretthamJr) June 22, 2026
Michigan State fans had some interesting things to say about Dusty’s departure and most of them were jokes at the Wolverines’ expense.
It’s hard to talk trash when Michigan just won a national title, but I distinctly remember them talking trash when Tom Izzo was considering taking the Cleveland Cavaliers job back in 2010. The Spartans were dominating in-state battles and making Final Four runs regularly while Michigan was just becoming relevant again under John Beilein.
The rivalry is going to look a lot different this upcoming season as Michigan could be moving forward with an interim head coach. I doubt any coach is willing to be poached from a major program at this point in the offseason.
Buckle up, folks, it’s going to be an interesting few months as the Wolverines try to find Dusty’s replacement while also trying to keep the roster intact.
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