Where Michigan State basketball’s 2024 NCAA tournament resume stands for March Madness
Michigan State basketball is projected to make the 2024 NCAA tournament, but it's far from a lock, hours ahead of Selection Sunday.
The latest bracketology projections have MSU (19-14) on the right side of the bubble in the tournament field, but the Spartans are projected to be one of the last at-large teams to secure a bid.
MSU came up short of further solidifying a spot against Purdue, a projected 1-seed, in Friday's quarterfinals of the Big Ten tournament. MSU played Purdue tough in the 67-62 loss, but struggled to contain the league's best player, center Zach Edey, and could not hit enough shots on the offensive end.
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Conference tournament championship game upsets Saturday have put MSU in a far more perilous situation. Based on the NCAA's metrics, the NET rankings, MSU has a tournament resume ranked No. 24 despite the lack of volume in the marquee win department (3-9 against Quad 1 opponents), which puts MSU as a favorite to make a 26th consecutive NCAA appearance under coach Tom Izzo.
Here are national bracketologists' latest tournament projections entering Sunday for both Michigan State and the Oakland Golden Grizzlies, who won the Horizon League tournament on Tuesday to qualify for their first NCAA tournament appearance since 2011.
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USA TODAY Sports: MSU avoids the First Four
The USA TODAY Sports crew keeps the Spartans as a 9-seed in the West region, facing 8-seed Dayton in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Tar Heels are the region's No. 1 seed. Regional finals will be played in Los Angeles.
Oakland is a 14-seed taking on 3-seed Illinois in Omaha, Nebraska in the East region.
ESPN: MSU will play a First Four game
ESPN's Joe Lunardi has MSU as one of the final four teams to make the field, setting up a play-in game in Dayton, Ohio, on Tuesday or Wednesday. The other last four teams in: TCU, Colorado and Oklahoma. MSU is projected as a 10-seed in the West region facing 10-seed Oklahoma, with the winner facing 7-seed Gonzaga in Salt Lake City. The projected 2-seed is Arizona.
Oakland is projected as a 14-seed also in the West region, facing 3-seed Baylor in Omaha, Nebraska. The Golden Grizzlies and Spartans would have to pull major upsets to meet in the Sweet 16 in Los Angeles.
READ MORE: Despite its loss, Michigan State shows needed toughness for NCAA tournament
CBS Sports: MSU in a disadvantageous matchup
CBS' Jerry Palm has MSU in the First Four as a 10-seed in the East region playing 10-seed Dayton ... in Dayton. The winner would play 7-seed Florida in Charlotte, with 2-seed UNC lurking. The second-weekend games are in Boston.
Oakland is a projected 14-seed in the South region facing 3-seed Creighton in Pittsburgh.
Fox Sports: MSU bypasses First Four
Fox Sports' Mike DeCourcy has MSU bypassing the First Four, earning a 10-seed and playing 7-seed Clemson in the East region. Tennessee is the No. 2 seed potentially awaiting the winner in the second round.
Oakland is a No. 14 seed playing 3-seed Duke, also in the East region.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: MSU's March Madness bracketology predictions for 2024 NCAA tournament
