This has been one of those unprecedented offseasons for Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo. While he did lose two guys to the transfer portal last offseason along with Tyson Walker and Malik Hall to the NBA, he expected those losses and they didn't come as a shock.
Almost everyone knew that AJ Hoggard and Mady Sissoko would be playing elsewhere this season so those weren't the shocking losses that Tre Holloman was this offseason.
After becoming a fan favorite for defending his teammates on senior day, Holloman was allowed to kiss the Spartan logo in the post-game festivities despite being a junior. It was thought to be a cool gesture by Izzo at the time, but little did anyone know that would be symbolic as it was his last game in a Spartan uniform, too.
Just two days after giving a teary-eyed quote in the locker room following the Auburn loss about letting his teammates down, Holloman entered the transfer portal, shocking everyone.
That decision did not come without flak from the fanbase.
And while Izzo isn't on social media, he knew about it and pleaded on Wednesday for fans to quit bashing players who decide to leave the program, stating that these are "unprecedented, crazy times."
Izzo is asking fans to stop bashing players on social media over transferring out or leaving for the NBA. Says these are "unprecedented, crazy times."
— Matt Wenzel (@mwenzel2) April 16, 2025
While I can agree with that sentiment, I can also understand why fans are upset with Holloman. He turned his back on the fans that had his all season. He became a fan favorite in East Lansing and was revered by Spartans everywhere and his role seemed large enough for him to come back and finish with a huge senior year and a teary-eyes logo kiss next spring.
Yet he decided to go where he could play more of a point guard role at NC State for Will Wade.
Izzo is right, though. You can't blame Holloman for leaving for a better situation (in his eyes) because that's how the system is set up. The transfer portal and NIL is set up to work for these kids sometimes and against them other times. But you can't fault Tre for playing the game.
The Hall of Famer doesn't seem too upset with Holloman's decision although he did say he was surprised that he transferred to NC State.