Michigan State impressed throughout its76-67 victory over Ohio State at the United Center on Friday night in the Big Ten tournament, but the Spartans might need a win over Maryland (27-5) to climb up to a No. 6 seed.
Both ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi and CBSsports.com analyst Jerry Palm continue to project Michigan State (22-10) as a No. 7 seed heading into Saturday afternoon's game against the Terrapins (TV: CBS, 3:30 p.m.) in the semifinals of the league tourney.
Lunardi said earlier this week that in order for MSU to land in a regional that's closer to campus -- Columbus, Ohio, Louisville or Pittsburgh -- the Spartans would need to move up to a No. 6 seed.
Otherwise, there's a great likelihood Michigan State will get shipped far away on the opening weekend of the NCAA tournament.
According to Lunardi's latest projection, MSU will open play in Omaha, Nebraska as a No. 7 seed against No. 10 seed Virginia Commonwealth with No. 2 seed Kansas likely awaiting in the Round of 32.
Palm's projected bracketshows Michigan State as a No. 7 seed -- also in Omaha -- facing a 10th-seeded North Carolina State team also with No. 2 seed Kansas a likely Round of 32 opponent.
The Spartans are No. 25 in the updated RPI rankings, while their opponent today, Maryland, is No 9 in the RPI rankings.
Teams immediately above MSU inthe RPI rankings are:
No. 20 LouisvilleNo. 21 ArkansasNo. 22 ProvidenceNo. 23 West VirginiaNo. 24 Georgetown
The Spartans were a No. 4 seed last season, reaching the Elite Eight.
The last time Michigan State was seeded as low as the school is currently projected was in 2011, when the Spartans lost to UCLA in their first game in the tournament.
Izzo has coached MSU to a No. 7 seed on two other occasions, in 2003 and 2004. The 2003 team reached the Elite Eight where it lost to No. 1-seed Texas.
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Source: http://www.mlive.com/spartans/index.ssf/2015/03/experts_agree_michigan_state_b.html
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