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The end of the regular season is drawing near. The games are getting more important. The chances to impress the 2026 NCAA Tournament committee are getting fewer and more impactful.
And when Michigan State basketball learned Saturday it was among the top-16 seeds with a month left before Selection Sunday, that went a long way to giving even more security that coach Tom Izzo’s 28th straight March Madness invitation will arrive soon.
Even though the 15th-ranked Spartans (22-5, 12-4 Big Ten) recovered from a lopsided loss at Wisconsin, their two wins at home over unranked opponents the past week couldn’t have been any more different – a feel-good blowout of UCLA, followed by an escape against Ohio State.
With four regular-season games remaining, MSU remains mathematically alive in the Big Ten title chase but needing massive amounts of help to even come close to a portion of it. The Spartans’ biggest quest now is to remain focused on one game at a time, trying to keep winning to secure a three-day pass at the outset of the Big Ten Tournament that starts March 10 in Chicago.
Yet a handful of opportunities to massively bolster the NCAA resume remain. It starts with Thursday’s difficult road game at No. 7 Purdue, where the Spartans haven’t won in 12 years.
Here's a look at MSU's bracketology projections and insight into its statistical profile.
Stats entering Monday’s games.
All rankings entering Monday’s games.
READ MORE: Another needed comeback prompts Michigan State team meeting
Feb. 17: 82-59 win vs. UCLA – The Spartans recovered from their blowout loss at Wisconsin by turning the table on the Bruins, riding the homecourt wave for a season-high 14 3-pointers and a career-best four 3s from Jeremy Fears Jr. He had 16 points and 10 assists, his fourth straight game with double-digit assists. Coen Carr added 16 points, while freshman Jordan Scott had 11 for his fifth straight game scoring in double figures as MSU scored 18 straight points as part of a 26-3 run to pull away swiftly.
Feb. 22: 66-60 win vs. Ohio State – The Spartans found themselves in a dogfight all afternoon. Bruce Thornton scored 32 points for shorthanded OSU, which led by three at halftime and held MSU to 23 first-half points. But Fears, Scott and Carson Cooper combined for 33 points after halftime and the Spartans survived one final flurry down the stretch from Thornton to hang on. Cooper finished with a career-high 20 points, 14 in the second half, and had his third double-double of the season with 11 rebounds. Scott scored 12 points to make it six in a row in double figures, while Fears had 11 points and eight assists.
Contact Chris Solari: [email protected]. Follow him @chrissolari.
Subscribe to the "Spartan Speak" podcast for new episodes weekly on Apple, Spotify or anywhere you listen to podcasts.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan State bracketology March Madness seed, opponent projections
Continue reading...
And when Michigan State basketball learned Saturday it was among the top-16 seeds with a month left before Selection Sunday, that went a long way to giving even more security that coach Tom Izzo’s 28th straight March Madness invitation will arrive soon.
Even though the 15th-ranked Spartans (22-5, 12-4 Big Ten) recovered from a lopsided loss at Wisconsin, their two wins at home over unranked opponents the past week couldn’t have been any more different – a feel-good blowout of UCLA, followed by an escape against Ohio State.
With four regular-season games remaining, MSU remains mathematically alive in the Big Ten title chase but needing massive amounts of help to even come close to a portion of it. The Spartans’ biggest quest now is to remain focused on one game at a time, trying to keep winning to secure a three-day pass at the outset of the Big Ten Tournament that starts March 10 in Chicago.
Yet a handful of opportunities to massively bolster the NCAA resume remain. It starts with Thursday’s difficult road game at No. 7 Purdue, where the Spartans haven’t won in 12 years.
Here's a look at MSU's bracketology projections and insight into its statistical profile.
Michigan State basketball schedule this week
- Thursday: at Purdue, 8 p.m., NBC Sports/Peacock.
- Sunday: at Indiana, 3:45 p.m., CBS.
Michigan State bracketology for NCAA tournament
Net rankings: No. 12 (began week No. 15)
Stats entering Monday’s games.
- Quad 1 record: 6-5.
- Quad 2 record: 6-0.
- Quad 3 record: 5-0.
- Quad 4 record: 5-0.
KenPom rankings: No. 10 (began last week No. 13)
All rankings entering Monday’s games.
- Offensive efficiency: No. 44.
- Defensive efficiency: No. 6.
Michigan State basketball bracketology projections
- TOP-16 BRACKET RELEASE: 4-seed.
- ESPN: 4-seed in West Region vs. High Point (updated Feb. 22).
- CBS: 4-seed in West Region vs. Utah Valley (updated Feb. 22).
- On3: 4-seed in South Region vs. UNC Wilmington (updated Feb. 22).
- USA TODAY: 4-seed in South Region vs. Utah Valley (updated Feb. 20).
- Fox Sports: 4-seed in South Region vs. UNC Wilmington (updated Feb. 20).
- Bracket Matrix: 4-seed (updated Feb. 20).
READ MORE: Another needed comeback prompts Michigan State team meeting
Michigan State basketball results last week
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Feb. 17: 82-59 win vs. UCLA – The Spartans recovered from their blowout loss at Wisconsin by turning the table on the Bruins, riding the homecourt wave for a season-high 14 3-pointers and a career-best four 3s from Jeremy Fears Jr. He had 16 points and 10 assists, his fourth straight game with double-digit assists. Coen Carr added 16 points, while freshman Jordan Scott had 11 for his fifth straight game scoring in double figures as MSU scored 18 straight points as part of a 26-3 run to pull away swiftly.
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Feb. 22: 66-60 win vs. Ohio State – The Spartans found themselves in a dogfight all afternoon. Bruce Thornton scored 32 points for shorthanded OSU, which led by three at halftime and held MSU to 23 first-half points. But Fears, Scott and Carson Cooper combined for 33 points after halftime and the Spartans survived one final flurry down the stretch from Thornton to hang on. Cooper finished with a career-high 20 points, 14 in the second half, and had his third double-double of the season with 11 rebounds. Scott scored 12 points to make it six in a row in double figures, while Fears had 11 points and eight assists.
How NCAA tournament committee selects at-large teams
- Record: The team's overall record, conference record, and non-conference record.
- Strength of schedule: The strength of the teams the team played against.
- Head-to-head results: The results of games between the teams being compared.
- Conference championships: The number of conference championships won.
- Common opponents: The results of games against common opponents.
- Adjusted Net Efficiency (NET): A measure of a team's overall performance during the regular season.
- Team Value Index: A results-oriented component of the NET that ranks teams based on who they beat and where they played.
- Rating Percentage Index (RPI): A computer program that calculates a team's winning percentage, opponents' success, and opponents' strength of schedule.
Contact Chris Solari: [email protected]. Follow him @chrissolari.
Subscribe to the "Spartan Speak" podcast for new episodes weekly on Apple, Spotify or anywhere you listen to podcasts.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan State bracketology March Madness seed, opponent projections
Continue reading...
