Tune in Sunday for the NCAA bracket reveal! Discover where both Michigan State basketball teams will play next.
How to Watch Selection Sunday
WHO: Men’s Basketball Selection Sunday
WHEN: 6 PM EST — Sunday, March 15
WATCH: CBS (Streamed on FuboTV)
WHO: Women’s Basketball Selection Sunday
WHEN: 8 PM EST — Sunday, March 15
WATCH: ESPN (Streamed on FuboTV)
Both Michigan State Spartans squads — men’s and women’s basketball — were eliminated much earlier than they hoped in the Big Ten Tournament. Still, both teams had impressive regular seasons and sit comfortably away from the bubble in their respective tournaments.
Now, all that remains is finding out where they’ll land in the bracket.
Michigan State Men’s Basketball
The Spartans suffered a tough loss in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament against UCLA. The Bruins carried their momentum from Thursday’s win over Rutgers into Chicago and into Friday night’s matchup with Michigan State.
UCLA jumped out to an early lead, putting the Spartans far back in the rear-view mirror. Michigan State was able to compete and chip away at the deficit, but the early damage proved costly.
Like a prisoner slowly chipping away at a wall to reach the sewers, the Spartans got close to the end of the tunnel—but they never quite saw the light on the other side.
Michigan State never got within one possession during the second half, despite having a few opportunities to make it that close. The defense seemed a step slow, and the rebounding game simply wasn’t there. While the shooting eventually found its rhythm, it came too late—something that has been a familiar pattern in Spartan games this season.
The Spartans will need to jump out to quicker starts moving forward, something they’ve struggled with at times. Digging a six-foot hole in the first half and expecting to climb out of it in the second half is no way to live life—and it has probably taken a few years off my life watching it happen.
Luckily for Michigan State, the Spartans still have the man, the myth, and the legend, Tom Izzo, leading the way. Izzo knows exactly how to prepare a team for March as he gets ready to lead Michigan State into his 28th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.
Despite the Big Ten Tournament loss, Michigan State is still projected to land somewhere around a No. 2 or No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament bracket.
Make sure to tune in tonight at 6 PM EST on CBS to see exactly where the Spartans land.
Michigan State Women’s Basketball
The Michigan State women’s team also did not find success in their first Big Ten Tournament game, getting upset by Illinois.
Another interesting note heading into the NCAA Tournament is that Michigan State has played just two games in the month of March. That’s something to keep in mind, as the lack of recent game action could go one of two ways. The extra time off could provide valuable rest—or it could disrupt the rhythm the team had built earlier in the season.
Michigan State finished the season 22–7 overall and 11–7 in conference play, highlighted by a historic start. The Spartans opened the season 17–1, the best start in program history.
However, the final stretch of the season was much tougher. Over the last 12 games leading up to the Big Ten Tournament, Michigan State went below .500, cooling off after that blazing start.
Even with a few late-season stumbles, the Spartans built enough of a résumé during the regular season to earn a solid seed in the NCAA Tournament.
My prediction for the Lady Spartans is a No. 5 seed.
Make sure to tune in tonight at 8 PM EST on ESPN to see where the Spartans land in the bracket.