Malik Hall thinks Michigan State basketball can win it all

Malik Hall is confident in Michigan State basketball as he told reporters on Sunday that he believes the Spartans can win it all.

On Sunday night, Michigan State basketball finally learned its fate in the NCAA Tournament. They are set to take on 8-seed Mississippi State in the first round with a potential matchup with 1-seed North Carolina in the second round.

With the Spartans being a 9-seed, there isn’t much hope for a deep NCAA Tournament run. Their play this season also suggests that a run in the tournament isn’t likely either. However, that hasn’t stopped one Spartan from having a lot of confidence going into the Big Dance.

Malik Hall thinks MSU can win it all

Malik Hall met with reporters after the Spartans learned they were in the NCAA Tournament. He first mentioned how the only thing that matters is making the field.

Malik Hall is at the podium after Michigan State was named as a No. 9 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

"I'm just happy we're in. Once you're in, it don't really matter where you're at."

— Spartans Illustrated (@SpartansRivals) March 17, 2024

There is a lot of truth to this quote. Once you’re in the tournament, nothing else matters as anything is possible. All you have to do is survive and advance. Simple enough, right?

Not when you’re a 9-seed in the tournament. Beating the 8-seed is difficult enough, but then you have a second round matchup with a 1-seed. That is where most 8/9-seeds’ tournament runs ends. However, it’s called March Madness for a reason as many upsets happen every year, so anything is possible.

Hall then took it a step further, saying he still believes they can be national champions.

Hall says it was tough waiting for the last portion of the bracket to hear MSU's name called. "We still have the possibility of being national champions in my eyes."

— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) March 17, 2024

Some people might think Hall is crazy, but this is the exact mindset I want my team to have. Does Michigan State basketball have a realistic chance at becoming the national champion? Absolutely not. But I’m just a fan and me thinking that way doesn’t affect anything. However, a player on the team thinking that wouldn’t be a good sign at all. So I’m glad a leader like Hall has this mindset going into the tournament.

Could Michigan State actually win a national championship?

Even though I just said the Spartans don’t have a realistic chance at winning it all, I still won’t say they have a zero percent chance. Just look at the seeds of last year’s Final Four teams. One 4-seed, two 5-seeds, and a 9-seed. That’s right, just last year a 9-seed made it all the way to the Final Four. So why can’t Michigan State do the same?

We also have seen MSU play extremely well in a few games this year. They dominated Baylor this year and looked strong in a win over Illinois as well, two teams that are 3-seeds. They also looked strong against 1-seed Purdue both times they played the Boilermakers and they took 2-seed Arizona down to the wire. So if Michigan State plays their best game, they definitely can beat any team in the tournament.

Will they actually do that is the question. We will all find out beginning Thursday as the Spartans take on Mississippi State in the first game of the NCAA tournament.