Bracketology: Michigan State's projected NCAA Tournament seed after loss to Ohio State
Michigan State had a chance to improve its seeding for the upcoming NCAA Tournament with a run in the Big Ten Tournament, but those hopes were dashes quickly by a 68-58 upset loss at the hands of Ohio State.
The Spartans now await their fate on 'Selection Sunday', but most tournament prognosticators agree on MSU's seed line for the 'Big Dance'.
In his latest projection, ESPN's Joe Lunardi has Michigan State (19-12 overall, 11-8 Big Ten) as a 7-seed in the East Regional Bracket. Lunardi lists 10th-seeded Providence (21-11, 13-7 Big East) as the Spartans first round opponent. In this projection, MSU would likely face 2-seed Baylor (22-10, 11-7 Big 12) in the second round.
Michigan State's projection as a 7-seed is widely agreed upon by bracketologists. In Bracket Matrix, which tracks all NCAA Tournament projections, the Spartans are listed as a 7-seed in 87 out of 105 predictions. Michigan State appears as an 8-seed 12 times, and as a 6-seed six times.
CBS Sports' Jerry Palm lists MSU as a 7-seed, and agrees with Lunardi that the Spartans will be placed in the East bracket. Palm lists Florida Atlantic (30-3, 18-2 C-USA) as the 10-seed and Michigan State's first round opponent. If the Spartans defeated the Owls, they would most likely face 2-seed Marquette (27-6, 17-3 Big East) in the second round in this projection.
Finally, Fox Sports' Mike DeCourcy also listed Michigan State as a 7-seed in the East bracket, but has the Spartans matched up with 10-seed Auburn (20-12, 10-8 SEC) in the first round. In this projection, with a win over the Tigers, MSU would likely face 2-seed Texas (25-8, 12-6 Big 12) in the second round.
Further movement is expected with the conclusion of conference tournaments throughout the country, but it's a fairly safe bet that Michigan State is looking at a 7-seed in the NCAA Tournament, and the East Regional bracket is the most likely landing spot.
