Bracketology: Michigan State Back On 2024 NCAA Tournament Bubble
If the 2023-24 regular season ended today, Michigan State men's basketball would be included in the field of 68 teams that make up the 2024 NCAA Tournament.
However, with back-to-back losses at home to Iowa and Ohio State, and a tough three-game stretch to conclude Big Ten play upcoming, the Spartans have slid back onto the tournament bubble.
All three of the major networks bracketologists — ESPN's Joe Lunardi, Fox Sports' Mike DeCourcey and CBS Sports' Jerry Palm — currently project Michigan State as a No. 9 seed in "the Big Dance". That would be an unfavorable outcome for the Spartans, who would face a No. 8 seed in the first round, followed by a No. 1 seed in the second round should they survive their first tournament game.
However, Michigan State can't concern itself with who it may have to play in the NCAA Tournament. The Spartans still need to secure their place in the field of 68, and that is not a guarantee with what's left on their schedule. MSU travels to No. 2 Purdue this Saturday (8:00 p.m./FOX) to face off against 7-foot-4 Zach Edey and the Boilermakers. The Spartans have lost seven of their past eight games against Purdue, and have not beaten the Boilermakers at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette since 2017.
Following the trip to Purdue, Michigan State returns home for 'Senior Night' against Northwestern (March 6) before concluding its regular season with a trip to Indiana (March 10). It's hard to imagine the Spartans upsetting the Boilermakers based on what we saw last week, so MSU likely needs to beat both the Wildcats and the Hoosiers to secure their spot in the tournament. Michigan State will have a shot to strengthen its resume in the Big Ten Tournament as well, where they are currently projected as the No. 6 seed.
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