Michigan State basketball: Is Ohio State game a must-win?

After being crushed by an Iowa loss, is Sunday against Ohio State a must-win for Michigan State basketball?

The Michigan State basketball season once again feels in jeopardy after Tuesday night. The Spartans suffered a gut-wrenching 78-71 loss to Iowa, eliminating all the momentum they had built up.

Michigan State now turns its attention to Ohio State which is coming to the Breslin Center Sunday afternoon.

Every game is important, but is this game a must-win?

Is MSU’s game against the Buckeyes a must-win?

Michigan State isn’t competing for the Big Ten championship anymore. There was an outside chance they could’ve won it, but that ended after the embarrassing loss to Iowa. But there are still two reasons why the Ohio State game is a must-win.

1. Big Ten Tournament seeding

If you are someone who cares about seeding in the Big Ten Tournament, MSU needs to win this game. Michigan State is currently tied with Nebraska for fifth place in the Big Ten. The Spartans are also one game back of Wisconsin and Northwestern from earning a top-four seed in the Big Ten Tournament and a double bye. So if you care about MSU winning the Big Ten tourney, the Spartans need to win this game.

Let’s just assume Michigan State loses to Purdue next week, that would mean MSU probably needs to win its other three games if it wants to get a top-four seed in the tournament. So that fact alone makes this a must-win game if Michigan State wants a top-four seed.

At the end of the day, this may not be that important to you, but there is another reason why Ohio State is a must-win game.

2. NCAA Tournament resume

If you thought a home loss to Iowa was bad, which it is, then you don’t want to know how bad a loss to Ohio State would be. The loss to Iowa hurt Michigan State’s resume, but at least the Hawkeyes are still in the hunt for an NCAA Tournament appearance themselves. Ohio State on the other hand doesn’t have a chance at making it unless they win the Big Ten Tournament.

Most bracket projections have Michigan State as an eight or nine-seed right now. That’s dangerously close to being on the bubble, but not quite there yet. A loss at home to Ohio State would put MSU firmly on the NCAA Tournament bubble. Nobody wants to be there.

Some of you may not care much about the Big Ten Tournament, but I think all of you care about the NCAA Tournament. So if we don’t want MSU’s tournament streak to be in jeopardy, then Michigan State must beat Ohio State on Sunday.