Michigan State Basketball Ranked Among College Basketball’s Elite

One of the most trusted analysts in the college basketball world has released his preseason rankings, and Michigan State is right near the top.

We’re talking about the one and only KenPom.

Ken Pomeroy is an American statistician who specializes in advanced basketball analytics. He created KenPom, a college basketball website and statistical archive best known for its College Basketball Ratings, which evaluate teams using a variety of advanced metrics.

Pomeroy does an excellent job of deciphering which teams stand above the rest among the more than 360 Division I programs.

Nineteen of the last 22 national champions entered the NCAA Tournament ranked inside the top six of the KenPom ratings.

For many college basketball fans, KenPom is the bible of advanced statistics. The ratings provide insight into how teams perform offensively and defensively, accounting for factors such as opponent quality and overall efficiency, all while combining those numbers into one comprehensive rating.

With that kind of track record, finishing inside the top six can be a significant indicator of a team's championship potential. It is no guarantee of a national title, but it can be an encouraging sign for teams hoping to make a deep tournament run.

Michigan State finds itself just one spot outside that coveted group. The Spartans enter the season ranked No. 7 in KenPom's preseason ratings.

The top 10 teams in the rankings are:

Michigan State is the second Big Ten team ranked inside the top 10, trailing Illinois by three spots.

Much of the national conversation surrounding the Big Ten has centered on Illinois and Michigan State as potential contenders for the conference's top spot. If both teams live up to their expectations, an early-February showdown could be one of the season's most anticipated matchups, with the possibility of another meeting in the Big Ten Tournament looming later in the year.

The Spartans already have lofty expectations heading into the season, and a No. 7 ranking from KenPom only reinforces the belief that this team has the potential to compete at the highest level.

However, rankings and preseason projections only go so far. Games aren't played on paper, and Michigan State faces a gauntlet of a schedule while carrying the weight of those expectations.

The road to a national championship will be difficult, but the numbers offer plenty of reason for optimism.

If Michigan State can climb just one spot in the KenPom rankings and finish the season inside the top six, history suggests the Spartans could have a legitimate shot at winning a national championship.