Michigan State basketball has now officially escaped the dreaded #8 vs #9 game with convincing wins over Ohio State and now a signature win over Maryland, an RPI top 10 team that had beaten them both times this season. Sparty couldn’t finish off the #1 seeded Wisconsin Badgers, but they showed some ability to close during the Big Ten Tournament.
In our final bracketology we had the Spartans as a #7 seed, and that’s what they received. It’s the same exact seed they had when State reached the Elite 8 in 2003.
The Michigan St. Spartans are 24-11 and enter the NCAA Tournament having won ten of their last 14 games.
They had a chance to beat Wisconsin in the final seconds, and perhaps doing that would have moved State from the #7 line to the #6 line. Who knows? The NCAA committee announces their brackets just minutes after the Big Ten Tournament ends every year, so I seriously doubt that what actually happens in the Big Ten Tournament Final truly factors all that much into the final bracket that comes out.
It was a heart-breaking result, but you got to love the way the Michigan State Spartans came back versus a very good Maryland team. After being down 14-1 to start the contest, shows they do actually have what it takes to make another deep run this March. This Michigan State basketball team is starting to get it together and taking down the Terps means another sweet sixteen berth this tournament could be in the cards.
MSU is a 5 point favorite over the Georgia Bulldogs, and #2 seed Virginia could be waiting for them in the second round. Michigan State took out Virginia when they were a #1 seed last year.
No one does the first weekend of March madness quite like Michigan State basketball.
Izzo knows it, you know it, we all know it. This Michigan State basketball team could be dangerous this year. They could be as tough as anybody in the big dance.
“If there’s a better thing to do during March Madness than to stay up all night and work,” said Izzo.
“It’s the greatest thing there is. I really mean that sincerely.”
“I love the moment, I love the opportunity. I’m getting a little old for it, but it’s still a lot of fun.”
The next day Izzo elaborated on what makes March such a wonderful and special time of year.
“I love March for two reasons; it’s tournament basketball with chances to win a championship, and the weather is getting nicer. Those two things. Days get longer and practice is over and it’s still sunny. It’s just a phenomenal time of year.”
This Michigan State basketball team has a 65% chance of winning their opening game, 18% chance of reaching the sweet sixteen, 11% of making the elite 8, 4% of reaching the Final 4, 2% chance of reaching the title game, and a less than 1% chance of winning it all according to 538
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and writes The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with Fox Sports Digital. You can read Banks’ feature stories and op-eds in the Chicago Tribune RedEye newspaper and hear his regular guest spots on numerous sports talk radio stations all across the country.
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