Michigan State’s biggest rival just experienced one of the most shocking coaching changes that I can remember in recent college basketball history. Michigan lost Dusty May two months after winning a national title, weeks before he was rumored to be signing an extension that was a “formality”.
Michigan fans were rightfully crushed by the news and with every sudden coaching change, there’s always some attrition in how locker room.
I’m not going to sit here and say that Dusty lied to his team and made them believe he was returning, but by all accounts, the players were shocked that he decided to leave. Trey McKenney even said that he found out the same way that everyone else did on social media — not a great look.
McKenney gave Michigan fans some good news earlier this week, stating that he’a be returning for his sophomore season and he’d be trying to ensure the locker room stayed together.
One key player that Michigan needed to return was starting point guard Elliot Cadeau. They believed that if he returned, all would be fine and both Cadeau and McKenney could convince the rest of the guys to buy in despite Dusty leaving right after recruiting most of them. On Thursday, Michigan fans got some good news on the Cadeau front. He decided to return to Michigan instead of testing the waters of the transfer portal following May’s departure.
Michigan State’s road to a Big Ten title just got a little tougher even though it was expected that he’d return. Cadeau’s departure likely would have eliminated the Wolverines from Big Ten title contention but now they have their leader back.
Tom Izzo needs a revenge tour
Two years ago, it was all sunshine and rainbows for Michigan State fans. The Spartans just won their first Big Ten title since Cassius Winston and they made the Elite Eight. It felt like Tom Izzo was getting his program back, and he has. The only problem? Michigan rose to the top of the sport.
Izzo watched as his most hated rival not only beat his Spartans twice during the regular season, but also did something that he’s been trying to do for 26 years.
If that doesn’t drive the Hall of Famer to make his biggest push for title No. 2, I don’t know what will. Getting beat by your biggest rival twice in a year that you won 27 games and had a legitimate national title contender only to watch them win it all would be the start of my villain arc if I were Izzo.
I can smell a Tom Izzo revenge tour from a mile away. The 2026-27 season can’t come soon enough.
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