Should Michigan State basketball be worried about a 2/15 update?
Just 11 2-seeds — in 156 games — have fallen to a 15-seed since the NCAA expanded the tournament to 64 teams in 1985 (not including this season).
One of those, of course, was MSU, which was stunned by Middle Tennessee in 2016. Perhaps even more worrisome: A 15-seed has pulled off the giant upset in three of the past four years, with only last year’s tourney seeing all four 2-seeds make the second round.
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Will the Spartans wind up like Arizona (four-point losers to Princeton in 2023), Kentucky (six-point losers in OT to Saint Peter’s in 2022) or Ohio State (three-point losers in OT to Oral Roberts in 2021)?
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Three Free Press sports writers have some thoughts on that:
Carlos Monarrez
Facing 15-seed Bryant is about as close as the 2-seed Spartans will get to a first-round bye. The Bulldogs have size but they’re a low major that got smoked this season against top-tier teams like St. John’s and Grand Canyon. Wait, Grand Canyon is a top-tier team? Yup, they’re a 13-seed in the West after annihilating Bryant, 112-66, in December. Bryant’s only outside shot is coach Phil Martelli Jr.’s uncanny resemblance to Connor Stalions. Watch out for those hand signals! The pick: MSU 87, Bryant 69.
Chris Solari
The Spartans’ depth will be key against the Bulldogs, who, like MSU, love to push the pace under second-year coach Phil Martelli Jr. Richardson, Akins, Jeremy Fears Jr. and Tre Holloman turn up the tempo, and Zapala, Kohler and Carson Cooper wear down Bryant’s undersized frontcourt to get the Spartans into Sunday’s second round. The pick: MSU 82, Bryant 68.
Shawn Windsor
Yes, this week is the nine-year anniversary of the Spartans’ loss to Middle Tennessee State. Yes, the Spartans were the 2-seed that year and MTSU was the 15, just as Bryant is the No. 15 seed now. But this MSU team can win without making shots. It can defend. It can rebound. It can run, and so it will run away from an upset. The pick: MSU 73, Bryant 63.
