BREAKING: Michigan State earns 26th consecutive NCAA Tournament bid
Things got uncomfortable for Michigan State men's basketball as several "bid-stealers" gobbled up a few extra spots in the 2024 NCAA Tournament, but the Spartans are going dancing for the 26th consecutive time.
On 'Selection Sunday', Michigan State not only safely made the field of 68, but also avoided playing in the "First Four" round in Dayton. The Spartans are the No. 9 seed in the West region and will face No. 8 seed Mississippi State in the first round on Thursday (12:15 p.m.). If MSU gets past the Bulldogs, its highly likely that they'll run into No. 1 seed North Carolina, who will have an overwhelming homecourt advantage with these games taking place in Charlotte, N.C.
Michigan State is 19-14 overall this season, finishing tied for sixth in the Big Ten Conference at 10-10 in league play. It's a far cry from the preseason expectations placed upon the Spartans, who were ranked No. 4 to start the year and a trendy pick to challenge Purdue for the league crown. Regardless, MSU is back in the field and head coach Tom Izzo has a shot at creating some more March magic.
"Could we have done more? One hundred percent," Izzo said in a press conference following the Selection Show. "I don't look at this as an overachieving year. I don't look at it as a totally underachieving year. It has not been the year I hoped it would be."
Izzo's 26 consecutive appearances in the NCAA Tournament are the most by any head coach in history, and Michigan State's streak is the second-longest in the nation, trailing only Kansas (34).
"26 out of 29 years...it is hard to believe," Izzo said. "This one was a little more strained but it was all the sweeter when it [happened]. Right now, I'm just happy we're in."
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