Michigan State basketball considered 'lock' to make NCAA Tournament

Originally posted on Spartan Shadows
By Connor Muldowney | Last updated 3/4/24

Despite the three-game losing streak that Michigan State basketball is riding, it’s considered an NCAA Tournament “lock”.

Michigan State basketball is flirting with the NCAA Tournament bubble yet again. Unfortunately, this has become the norm post-COVID for the proud program and Tom Izzo is no stranger to “must-win” games in March.

After losing three straight in the past two weeks, Michigan State likely needs to beat Northwestern on Senior Day and then win at Indiana to truly secure its spot in the NCAA Tournament. It’s not going to be easy as the Wildcats (Boo Buie) have had Michigan State’s number for years and winning in Bloomington is always tough, no matter how poorly the Hoosiers are playing.

Sitting at 17-12, Michigan State likely needs to be 19-12 heading into the Big Ten Tournament and adding a win there won’t hurt.

While it feels like the Spartans are squarely on the bubble, bracketologists everywhere disagree. In fact, Michigan State is considered one of six Big Ten “locks” to make the NCAA Tournament according to 93 submitted brackets.

Of 93 total submitted brackets

93 of 93 brackets (Locks)
Purdue – 100% 1 Seed
Illinois – 3 seed best, 5 worst
Wisc – 4 seed best, 7 worst
Northwestern – 7 seed best, 12 worst
Mich St – 6 seed best, 11 worst
Nebraska – 8 seed best, 11 worst

Iowa – 3 brackets (none are Andy Katz)

— ᗩᑎT ᗯᖇIGᕼT (@itsAntWright) March 4, 2024

Purdue (No. 1 seed lock), Illinois, Wisconsin, Northwestern, Michigan State, and Nebraska were included on all 93 submitted brackets while a surging Iowa team was on three. This is clearly a down year for the conference, but it goes to show just how respected the Spartans are even in a down year. Most teams that are 17-12 aren’t “locks” to make the tournament, but Michigan State’s strength of schedule, zero bad losses, and NET ranking have them almost safely in the field.

Again, this is likely assuming the Spartans take care of Northwestern on Wednesday night and go into Bloomington and beat a struggling Indiana team led by a head coach directly on the hot seat.

Win the final two regular season games and there is no sweating anything out on Selection Sunday. Lose one of the two and they’ll need at least one Big Ten Tournament win to feel safe. Lose both and Michigan State basketball may see its tourney streak come to an end.

This article first appeared on Spartan Shadows and was syndicated with permission.

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