Michigan State’s Izzo Decries New NCAA Rules

Michigan State men’s head basketball coach Tom Izzo isn’t happy with the officiating at the start of the season, and he’s not blaming the referees.

According to Michigan Live, Izzo says the NCAA’s new rules are ruining the flow of the game. While the Spartans managed to beat Florida Gulf Coast on Sunday night, Izzo says an abundance of flagrant fouls and monitor reviews that repeatedly stopped the clock made the game particularly unpleasant to watch.

"How many times did that thing stop — for minutes? Four? Five?" Izzo said of the play clock after the game. "The poor officials are mandated. If they don't call it this way, they don't work the NCAA tournament. But the stoppage of action in that game made it the most boring game."

Izzo went on to say he thinks it’s “sad’ what the NCAA is doing to the game of basketball. He said there were more rule changes this season that have slowed the game down and resulted in an “over-legislated” environment.

"What they want is a big sideshow here," Izzo said. "Let's score 150 points and the other team score 140."

Izzo also thinks that the new rules will result in higher foul numbers and therefore fewer minutes for key players. "Our best players are going to be on the bench, our best players are going to be ejected," Izzo said. "I just don't get it. People don't pay to see people sitting on the bench who are your best players. People don't pay to not see a guy play."