Busting Brackets
Fansided

Michigan State Basketball: Evaluating Spartans heading into 2021 NCAA Tournament

By Ryan Kay

EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN - FEBRUARY 25: A.J. Hoggard #11 and Rocket Watts #2 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates 71 - 67 win against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Breslin Center on February 25, 2021 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN - FEBRUARY 25: A.J. Hoggard #11 and Rocket Watts #2 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates 71 - 67 win against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Breslin Center on February 25, 2021 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 5
Next
Big Ten Basketball
Aaron Henry Michigan State Basketball (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

Overview of the 2020-2021 Season

Wins

*Eastern Michigan
*Notre Dame
*Detroit Mercy
*@Duke
*Western Michigan
*Oakland
*Nebraska (twice)
*Rutgers
*Penn State
*Indiana (twice)
*Illinois
*Ohio State
*Michigan

Loses

*@Northwestern
*Wisconsin
*@Minnesota
*Purdue (twice)
*@Rutgers
*@Ohio State
*Iowa (twice)
*Maryland (twice)
*@Michigan

Net ranking: 70

KenPom ranking: 56

NCAA Tournament Seed: 11

Highlights: The Spartans have some very impressive victories on their resume as they are the only team in college basketball to have defeated three highly ranked teams in Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio State. Michigan State has shown signs and moments where they have been able to compete and beat some top 10 ranked teams when they are determined, focused, and efficient on offense and play stellar defense.

Not many teams in the Big Ten and or America wants to face the Spartans in the NCAA tournament and it may be safe to assume that UCLA and then possibly BYU are not thrilled to possibly be facing the Spartans this week.

Concerns: As mentioned already with the breakdowns of the individual players, Michigan State as a whole has been very inconsistent as the Spartans began the season 6-0 and undefeated but then the Michigan State was winless to start Big Ten play going 0-3. As Big Ten play progressed they won two straight with a very impressive 23-point victory over Rutgers but then they lost by one point to Purdue the following game. The inconsistent play continued throughout Big Ten play.

Near the end of the season, Michigan State looked dominant like they did early in the season when they won on the road against Indiana and then defeated two top-five ranked teams in three days. However, they would end up losing to Maryland twice away from their home court and lose to Michigan by double digits on the road but they defeated Michigan at home on Senior Day. Who knows what Spartan team will show up in the NCAA tournament.

NCAA Tournament First Round Opponent: UCLA

Home/Michigan State Spartans