Michigan State and Tom Izzo came within a game of the Final Four, before getting beat by overall No. 1 seed Auburn. To Valenti, it "was varsity versus J.V." The same was true when Michigan lost to Auburn in the Sweet 16, which presents a "fork in the road" for both programs, says Valenti: "They have to make a very conscious decision, and it is whether you are going to spend what it takes to win a national championship or not — full stop."
It's especially complicated for Michigan State, says Valenti, because "the head coach is hesitant to do it. It’s not a secret. Anyone who knows Izzo will tell you, he doesn’t love paying the players or dealing with entitlements. MSU’s highest-paid player? Frankie Fidler. Well, that’s why you’re going home. You gotta pay the freight."
To Valenti, the difference between a team like Michigan State and Auburn is that if "you spend $1.5 million, you get Johni Broome. You spend 10 percent of that, you get ‘Frankie Zapala.’ You have to make a decision, are you in it to win it?"
"If you’re not going to spend, you’re not making the Final Four with a chance. I’ll never say Tom Izzo can’t make a Final Four. But I’ll tell you, if MSU was in this right now, they’d be +1,000. They would be far and away the worst team in this."
That leads Valenti to ask, "If you’re a State fan, do you believe it’s Izzo’s last run?"
"Because A) he hates the portal. B) he does not want to pay players that type of money. And you’re losing Jase Richardson to the NBA, I'd be gobsmacked if he returns. I think there’s a shot you lose Coen Carr. You go, 'Why would Coen leave?' Well, there’s no loyalty. And if you’re Alabama, up-tempo, open floor, if you’re Florida, Tennessee, Auburn, Duke, North Carolina: Coen Carr, a million bucks. And it’s going to be on MSU to match it."
As a case in point, Valenti says that Michigan State should go get Kansas big man Flory Bidunga, who entered the transfer portal over the weekend: "He’s going to be the No. 1 big in the portal. Top-15 recruit, pedigree, NBA, the whole bit. Here’s your problem: he’s going to cost a lot of money. And a school like MSU has not shown the willingness to do that. I’ll tell you this: if MSU doesn’t change their strategy, they’re never winning one."
Ultimately, winning it all is all that matters to Valenti: "I don’t care about the Final Four anymore. You either win the whole damn thing or what was it for? That’s it. 'How can you say that? It’s college sports.' No, it’s not. It’s pro sports now. 'Well, why are you that type of fan?' Because I’m a bleep-hole. That’s why. That’s who I am!
"I want to win, or F-it."