[UPDATE: MSU is a 5 seed in the Midwest, playing New Mexico State in Spokane on Friday. If we can get through the first round, we're probably looking at Maryland in the 2nd round, and a potential Sweet Sixteen rematch with Kansas in the Sweet Sixteen. Ohio State is the #2 seed in the Midwest, playing the opening rounds in Milwaukee.
My immediate reaction is that this is an immensely unfavorable draw for MSU. Seems like the committee put a lot of emphasis on the conference tournament. Truly, we made our own bad luck here. End update.]
First, congratulations to Ohio State, who put together a national championship-quality performance in throttling Minnesota, 90-61. Whoever ends up in the same region as Ohio State, beware: it's cliche, but the Buckeyes are peaking at the right time and playing as well as any team in the country.
The bracket selection gets underway in approximately 10 minutes, on CBS. Your Spartans figure to be a 4 or 5 seed (3 if we're massively lucky). The key here would seem to be avoiding the dreaded 5-12 matchup. A quick sampling of expert bracket predictions:
- SBN's own Blogging the Bracket has MSU as the 5 seed in the South region. We'd play Cornell (27-4, Ivy League champs) in New Orleans.
- Joe Lunardi's Bracketology has MSU as the Midwest 5 seed, playing Wake Forest (19-10) in San Jose.
- Jerry Palm also has MSU in the Midwest region, but as the 4 seed, playing Murray State (30-4, Ohio Valley champs) in San Jose.
Other burning questions: will Minnesota be in the field? Illinois? We'll find out soon enough. The best sports week of the year is about to begin.